For every ten people in America, at least eight of those will deal with back pain at least once in their life. With so many people dealing with chronic pain that impacts their daily lives, where should you turn to?
Back and spine pain should be dealt with by a spine specialist. These physicians are qualified and trained to treat and diagnose a variety of symptoms specific to your discomfort.
Keep reading on to learn more about what to look for in your back and spine specialist and how to recognize the signs of needing to visit a doctor.
Back Pain
Many people who deal with back pain start by trying to manage the pain themselves. This might include over-the-counter medication such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol. You might even see a chiropractor or physical therapist if your pain doesn’t improve.
At some point, you could schedule a visit with your primary care physician. Yet, a lot of the time your pain and discomfort should be managed by someone who specializes in back pain and spine issues.
When should you see a specialist?
If you deal with intermittent or constant pain that shoots down your legs, significant weight loss, weakness, or pain that interrupts your sleep – you should see an orthopedic back and spine specialist.
Back and Spine Specialist
If your back pain is severe enough, you could require surgery. You want to make sure that you are in trusting and capable hands for surgery performed on your back. These specialists will only treat diagnoses associated with back pain and require further specialization following medical school.
They also have more in-depth knowledge and resources than your typical physician. This allows them to better treat the nerves, bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the back and spine. These specialists are usually located in facilities that are designed with unique equipment to treat these problems.
A back specialist will be able to perform common surgeries such as a lumbar spinal fusion, laminectomy, and microdiscectomy. They will have the knowledge and expertise to answer all of your back and spinal pain questions. Additionally, they can refer you to appropriate treatments based on imaging and manual testing.
Spinal issues can lead to long-term damage and debilitating chronic pain. With many nerves in the region, you want to be sure that you are visiting a clinic that you trust.
Your regular primary care physician and standard orthopedic doctor deal with a variety of issues that they have to be up-to-date on. Narrowing down your searches to someone who has worked with many similar cases and performed dozens of commonplace surgeries for the back will put your mind at ease.
Address Your Pain Today
Don’t wait any longer to address your lingering back and spine today. If you have tried different methods at home to manage your discomfort, then it is time to reach out to a specialist who can help you get back on your feet.
Dealing with back pain is sometimes scary – especially if you are experiencing nerve pain. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a trusted and professional back and spine specialist.
