Treating Back Pain In Multiple Locations
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Successfully treating one source of back pain is hard enough, but what if you’re dealing with back pain in a couple different locations? How should you move forward with the best treatment plan if spine pain is present in more than one location? In today’s blog, we explain how to best treat multiple sources of back pain.
Multiple Sources of Back Pain
Treating multiple sources of back pain can be difficult, because it could mean a couple of different things. For starters, you may be dealing with two completely independent injuries, which is somewhat common if you suffer trauma to the site like in a slip and fall accident. You may also be dealing with a condition that is directly causing another condition in a different location in your back. For example, if disc degeneration has altered your gait, you may be putting extra stress on your lower back when you walk, so the disc pain is actually causing another problem in your lumbar spine.
But that’s not all. There’s also the possibility that nerve compression in one area is making it seem like there is a problem developing in another area. Nerve compression in your lumbar spine can lead to neck discomfort, so while you may believe you’re dealing with an issue in both your lower and upper spine, the upper spine condition is actually just a symptom of the lower spinal nerve compression. Trying to treat the neck pain won’t be successful, because the problem is not actually housed in the neck.
So how should you best treat back pain that has developed in a number of different locations? As you can tell by the above examples, the best thing you can do is to get an accurate diagnosis from a spine specialist. You won’t know exactly what’s causing the pain until you get a diagnosis, so it’s not in your best interest to try a treatment plan until you know specifically what’s going on in your body. Dr. Sinicropi has performed a number of these comprehensive spinal exams, and he can do the same for you.
After Your Diagnosis
Once a comprehensive diagnosis has been performed, your specialist will walk you through what’s going on inside your body and what treatment options should provide the best relief. It’s in your best interest to follow the specific instructions of your doctor, but in general, some common treatment options include a combination of:
- Rest
- Physical Therapy
- Stretching Techniques
- Low or Moderate Intensity Exercise
- Corticosteroid Injections
- Surgery
Pain medications or anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed, but active treatment options are usually also necessary for a full recovery. So if you’re struggling to get rid of back pain that has been present in more than one location, do yourself a favor and get a diagnosis from an expert like Dr. Sinicropi. We’re confident you’ll walk out of the office with a plan in place to treat your pain. For more information, reach out to his clinic today.
