Back pain is a symptom that can result from a number of different injuries and conditions. There are also multiple types of back pain treatment Orange Park FL available. These treatments include physical therapy,  The specific treatments a patient receives depend on the underlying cause.

Causes of Back Pain

When a patient suffers back pain, it is most often due to either an injury or a disease, or an age-related degenerative condition.

Injuries are the most common cause of back pain. These result from:

• improper lifting
• accidents
• obesity
• poor posture
• insufficient exercise
• sleeping on a worn or low-quality mattress

Degenerative conditions that can lead to chronic back pain can include any of the following:

• ankylosing spondylitis (fusing of the vertebrae)
• herniated disc (also known as “slipped” or ruptured disc)
• arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
• osteoporosis
• osteomyelitis (an infection of the bone tissue)
• sacroiliitis (inflammation of the joint between the spine and pelvis)
• sciatica (a pinched nerve)
• scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
• spinal stenosis resulting in pressure on nerves

In some cases, back pain can result from causes not directly related to the back and spine, such as pregnancy, endometriosis (growth of uterine tissues outside the uterus), a kidney infection or fibromyalgia.

Back Pain Treatments

Treatments for chronic or acute back pain will vary depending on the underlying cause. These treatments fall into one of three categories.

Physical therapy is the first-line treatment for back pain due to injuries. A physical therapist will do manipulations when and as necessary and can design exercises the patient can do at home to increase strength and flexibility.

A pain management specialist may also prescribe medications when called for. Medication usually begins with the use of over-the-counter products such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or naproxen.  If these do not provide relief, muscle relaxants or prescription opioids may be prescribed. If such prescriptions are used, it is important to understand that there can be side effects; opioids are also habit-forming, so they are prescribed sparingly and should not be used for an extended period.

If these do not relieve pain, surgery may be called for. This is the best option for conditions such as a herniated disc or spondylitis. Surgical options include removal of a disc or bone tissue, fusing vertebrae, and the use of an artificial disc.

A thorough examination can pinpoint the cause of back pain, enabling the physician to come up with the best treatment options.