In this article, we will discuss the causes and effective treatment for spinal pain. Spinal pain occurs in the lumbar and cervical region and can seriously disrupt a person’s quality of life. One of the main reasons for lower back pain is lumbar muscle strains and sprains. You can also develop spinal pain in the thoracic spine.
While pain in the thoracic spine is uncommon due to its rigid structure, cervical and lumbar spine pain is pretty common. It can also radiate throughout your legs, arms, and rib cage.
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4 Top Causes of Spinal Pain
Sudden pressure on the spinal cord can cause spinal pain and strains. It is important to identify the actual cause behind the pain for proper treatment. You should visit a pain management doctor so they can identify the cause and suggest the best treatment plan. Here are some conditions that link with spinal pain:
1. Muscle or Ligament Strain
Consistently lifting heavy weights without proper movement can cause pressure on the spinal ligaments and back muscles. If you are in poor physical health, you may develop painful muscle spasms.
2. Bulging or Ruptured Disks
Between your spinal bones or vertebrae, there are cushions responsible for creating flexibility. In some conditions, the soft material between disks becomes bulgy and ruptures. Sometimes, bulging and ruptured disks aren’t painful, but they cause immovability to the spine.
3. Arthritis
Osteoarthritis can cause spinal pain in the lower back. When you leave this condition untreated, it will turn into spinal stenosis.
4. Osteoporosis
When the bones become brittle and porous, they develop painful fractures in the spine vertebrae, causing severe pain.
Risk Factors for Spinal Pain
Everyone is at the risk of developing pain in the spine, whether they’re teenagers or adults. Read these risk factors to learn if you are prone to spinal pain:
· Age
The risk of developing spinal pain increases with time. Many people after the age of 30 or 40 develop chronic back pain.
· Lack of Exercise
Low body movement can also cause body pain. When you have weak or unused muscles in your abdomen and back, it could lead to back pain.
· Excess Weight
Excessive weight adds pressure to your spine, damaging the cushions between cervical discs.
· Diseases
Diseases such as cancer and arthritis increase the risk of developing back pain.
· Improper lifting
When lifting weights, pressure on the back instead of legs can damage your spine. This can trigger intense pain.
· Psychological Conditions
People with anxiety and depression develop spinal pain.
· Smoking
Smokers have a high risk of developing back pain. Excessive smoking leads to coughing, which puts pressure on cervical disks. This can cause herniated discs. Furthermore, smoking decreases blood flow in the spinal region, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Pain Management Options for Spinal Pain
Non-Surgical
A herniated disc can cause structure neural compression, sprains, and strains. Spinal pain is one of the symptoms of a herniated disc. You can reduce your activities to naturally treat disc herniation. You can also opt for bed rest. However, you should avoid prolonged bed rest as it can increase muscle stiffness and cause loss of muscle strength. In the long run, this increases the intensity of pain in the spine.
When you visit a professional pain management doctor such as Dr. Matthew Grimm, they will perform a complete diagnosis. After examining the condition, they will prescribe appropriate NSAID medication. These medications are effective for mild to moderate pain. The doctor may also suggest narcotic medication and muscle relaxants for severe pain.
You can also undergo physical therapy for pain management. The pain management doctor will evaluate your condition and develop a preferable treatment plan to ease your spinal pain. There are different types of therapies such as gentle massage, pelvic traction, ice and heat therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound treatment, and stretching exercises. The doctor will suggest the best one according to your condition.
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Surgical
A doctor may suggest surgery in case of spinal pain due to a herniated disc. With growing age, the ligaments, discs, and muscles surrounding the spine grow weak. The degeneration of these parts increases strain and sprain. This leads to disc rupture and severe pain in the spine. People suffering from disc problems can undergo surgery and replace the damaged disc with a synthetic one. Your doctor will examine your condition and suggest the best surgical procedure for disc replacement.
Spinal Pain: Conclusion
Are you looking for a doctor in New York City to help manage your spinal pain? If so, give us a call and schedule an appointment with our professional and highly skilled pain management doctor, Dr. Matthew Grimm.
Matthew Grimm, M.D.
160 E 56th St
11th Floor
New York, NY 10022
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