Back Pain Specialist

What is back pain?

Back pain can feel like aching muscles, a stabbing sensation, or a burning sensation. It starts in the back but can travel down one or both legs. It can also radiate up the spine to your neck. Some back pain worsens when you move, like bending over to pick something up, lifting heavy items, walking, or climbing stairs.

Most back pain is temporary and gradually improves over a few weeks with home treatments like rest and over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin). But you should contact Dr. Svabek about back pain if the following occur:

• Pain lasts more than a few weeks
• Pain doesn’t improve with rest
• Spreads down your legs past your knee
• Causes tingling or weakness in one or both legs

You should also schedule an appointment if your back pain is accompanied by unexplained weight loss.

What causes back pain?

Some people develop idiomatic back pain, or pain with no specific cause that can be determined. But several health conditions commonly cause back pain, including:

Herniated disc

Your spinal discs are filled with a soft material that cushions the bones and provides flexibility. Herniated discs, also called bulging discs, rupture, pressing against one or more nerves and causing moderate to severe pain.

Spinal stenosis

The gradual narrowing of the canal within your spine that your spinal cord runs through is called spinal stenosis. This commonly shows up in the neck and lower back. Symptoms include numbness, muscle weakness, pain, and reduced bladder control.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis commonly affects the lower back. Arthritis in the spine can cause spinal stenosis.

Muscle strain

People with jobs requiring repetitive movements or heavy lifting often experience muscle strain. Making a sudden, awkward movement also causes muscle strain and back pain.

How is back pain treated?

Most back pain gets better on its own in a few weeks. Over-the-counter pain relievers and a heating pad tend to relieve the pain. Continue the daily activities that you can tolerate, including walking and daily living activities, but stop any activity that causes your back pain to get worse.

If there’s no improvement in your back pain after a few weeks, call Dr. Svabek for an appointment. He could recommend:

• Muscle relaxers
• Cortisone injections
• Implanted nerve stimulators

If at-home or conservative treatment methods don’t relieve your back pain, you might need surgery. Severe back pain that radiates down one or both legs, along with progressive muscle weakness, often requires surgery. Back surgery can fix spinal stenosis and herniated discs that don’t respond to other treatments.

Call Dr. Svabek’s practice today or book an appointment online and get relief for your back pain.