5 Signs You Should Schedule A Visit With A Spine Specialist

Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

Spine Problem Signs

We love helping patients live more fulfilling and pain free lives, but oftentimes people think their pain or immobility is simply a natural part of the aging process. That’s just simply not true, and no pain is normal even though a large portion of Americans experience back pain at some point in their life. We’d love to help you, but there’s nothing we can do if you don’t schedule an appointment and walk into our clinic. In today’s blog, we hope to help you understand what signs or symptoms suggest you could benefit from a consultation with a back specialist so you don’t have to live with back pain anymore.

When To Visit A Specialist

The following tips aren’t for things considered a medical emergency, like if spine pain was inhibiting your ability to go to the bathroom, but they do suggest that you are likely dealing with a treatable condition that would benefit from physician guidance.

  1. Chronic back pain – If you have chronic back pain, even if it is mild or dull, you should set up an appointment with a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. Back pain that has lasted for longer than six weeks is not normal, and there’s a good chance small interventions can help ease the pain. If pain has been constant or regularly occurred for more than six weeks, contact a back specialist.
  2. Affecting how you walk – Another way to tell if you’d benefit from a visit with a spine specialist is to notice if back pain is affecting the way you walk. If you have a hitch in your step or you’re hunched forward or leaning back while walking, you need to see a doctor. If you’re not walking naturally, there’s going to be some uneven stress on your hips and knees, which can lead to even more problems down the road.
  3. A few sharp pains – If you are dealing with a few sharp pains during certain movements or at certain times of the day (in the morning, for example), you should set up an appointment with a back specialist. Sharp or intense pains, even if they are fleeting, are not normal and should be examined by the specialist. It could be as simple as a compressed nerve that just needs to be freed with physical therapy or manual adjustment.
  4. Limited range of motion – If your back pain is inhibiting your natural range of motion, you should see a doctor. We understand that you may not be as flexible or mobile as you were back in the day, but if back pain is preventing mobility or functional range, it should be addressed by a specialist. Depending on the root cause, stretching exercises or targeted physical therapy may be all you need.
  5. Affecting your quality of life – Finally, if back pain is limiting your independence or negatively affecting your quality of life, seek out physician intervention. Back pain doesn’t have to hold you back unless you let it, so regain control of your life by working with a professional to get rid of your back pain.

For more tips, or to talk to a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.

 

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