When Back Pain Isn’t Just Back Pain: How an Orthopedic Spine Specialist Can Help

An orthopedic spine specialist is consulting with a patient regarding back pain issues and the potential need for physical therapy.

In short…

  • When to Be Concerned: Persistent pain that lasts longer than a few days or pain that spreads to the limbs may be signs that you should see an orthopedic spine specialist.
  • How a Specialist Can Help: An orthopedic doctor specializing in back pain treatment can guide you in finding relief through prescription therapies and surgery when necessary.
  • Finding a Back Specialist: OACM in Central Maryland has a team of back specialists dedicated to helping you return to the activities you enjoy.

Back pain wears many faces. For some people, it manifests as a dull ache that comes and goes; for others, a twinge that spoils their mood and makes them wince. But no matter how it shows up, one thing is clear—it is unwelcome.

Most of the time, back pain is nothing to worry about. You can chalk it up to sleeping in the wrong position or spending hours hunched over your desk, and it goes away after just a few days of self-care. However, it can also signal a deeper problem that calls for the expertise of an orthopedic spine specialist.

So, how do you know when to stop toughing it out, and how can an orthopedic spine specialist help? In the sections ahead, you will learn about the signs it is time to move beyond self-care for your back pain and what to expect from visiting an orthopedic spine specialist.

When Back Pain Becomes a Cause for Concern

If you have been searching online for answers to questions like “When do I see a back specialist near me?”  or “When do I seek low back pain treatment near me?” chances are the problem has already crossed the threshold. Below are some clear signs that indicate your back pain requires proper medical intervention:

  • It has worsened or persisted for longer than a few weeks despite home treatments.
  • It spreads to your arms, legs, hips, or buttocks, and you also feel numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in these areas.
  • It intensifies with movement or certain positions.
  • You are having difficulty walking or standing for long periods.

These symptoms often point to an underlying issue like nerve compression or degenerative disc disease, which can worsen and lead to loss of function if left untreated.

Rarely, back pain can occur with bowel or urinary incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control). These are signs of severe nerve compression, a condition known as cauda equina syndrome, which warrants emergency care to prevent irreversible nerve damage.

How an Orthopedic Spine Specialist Can Help

Visiting an orthopedic spine specialist is a crucial step toward breaking free from back pain. With their expertise, you can uncover its root cause and start your journey to recovery.

During your visit, they will perform a detailed evaluation, which includes a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a physical examination, and advanced imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and/or nerve conduction studies. Once they confirm a diagnosis, your orthopedic spine doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan to tackle the underlying cause and help you function and move comfortably again.

Based on your specific diagnosis and the severity of your symptoms, your orthopedic spine specialist will likely recommend any or a combination of the following approaches:

  • Physical therapy: This helps relieve your back pain by improving your posture and strengthening the structures that support your spine.
  • Medications: Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, or topical pain relievers to help ease your symptoms.
  • Epidural steroid injections (ESI): Your doctor may inject a powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into your epidural space, which is the area surrounding the protective covering of your spinal cord, to reduce swelling around the irritated spinal nerve
  • Spinal cord stimulation: This treatment uses a tiny implant that delivers gentle electrical impulses to your spinal cord to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain.
  • Orthobiologics: Also known as regenerative medicine, this innovative treatment involves the use of biologically sourced materials to stimulate tissue repair and speed up healing.
  • Surgery: Depending on your diagnosis, your orthopedic spine specialist may perform surgery to remove a damaged disc, decompress a nerve, or stabilize your spine to restore function and eliminate pain.

Your orthopedic spine specialist will likely start with noninvasive treatments like physical therapy and medications. If these do not provide adequate relief, your spine specialist may turn to minimally invasive, interventional pain management modalities like ESIs or spinal cord stimulation. In severe or complex spine conditions for which an extensive course of nonoperative treatments does not suffice, your spine doctor will likely consider the possibility of surgery. This stepwise approach ensures that you receive the most appropriate and effective care.

Orthopedic Spine Specialist in Central Maryland

Do not let back pain hold you back any longer. If you are in Central Maryland, partner with one of the physicians on our spine team here at the OACM—Dr. Gurtej Singh, Dr. Michael DeMarco, or Dr. Oren Blam.

Exceptionally trained in a wide range of conservative, interventional, and surgical treatments, our orthopedic spine specialists are profoundly committed to providing first-rate, personalized care. Just as they have helped countless patients with all sorts of spinal conditions, you can count on them to guide you toward the most effective solution, one that can ultimately help you get back to living a life without limits.

To book an appointment with one of our spine experts, contact us at (410) 644-1880 or use our online scheduling tool.

 

 

 

External Source:

  • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906