Back Pain

What causes back pain?

Back pain is not a disorder in and of itself, but rather a symptom of a wide range of possible medical issues. Back pain can be caused by complications in your:

• Muscles
• Nerves
• Ligaments
• Vertebrae
• Nearby organs, like your kidneys.

Back pain is also frequently caused by radiculopathy (pinched nerve), which occurs when the nerve roots in your spinal column are compressed by the surrounding tissues, a herniated disc, or a bone spur.

What are some of the symptoms of back pain?

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that 75-85% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Typical back pain symptoms include:

• Decreased range of motion or difficulty flexing your back
• Difficult time standing up straight without it hurting
• Stabbing pain that shoots down your leg and foot
• Dull ache in your lower back

Back pain can less frequently cause:

• Numbness or tingling in your leg(s)
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Intense and persistent pain that gets worse at night
• Inexplicable weight loss
• Fever
• Throbbing sensation in your abdomen

Any of these symptoms can be an indication of a more serious underlying problem.

How is back pain treated?

Back pain gets better without surgery in 90% of all cases. But if you’ve been experiencing chronic back pain that won’t go away with home remedies or over-the-counter medications, Dr. Wallace has a wide range of treatment solutions he can use to alleviate your symptoms, such as:

Steroid injections

Injections of corticosteroid into your spinal canal (called an epidural injection) can help alleviate your back pain by reducing inflammation and swelling in a particular area. While steroids only relieve the pressure on your nerves and nerve roots temporarily, the reduction in inflammation can give your body time to heal from whatever trauma it’s experiencing.

Nerve block injections

Nerve blocks are injections of a localized anesthetic directly into your affected area. They numb your pain and provide near-complete relief, but they wear off after a few hours.

Spinal cord stimulator

A spinal cord stimulator is a small, electronic device that’s surgically implanted in your body and sends electrical signals up your spine and to your brain. The electrical signals emitted by the stimulator interfere with the pain signals that your back is sending to your brain, effectively “masking” the pain that you experience.

Trigger point injections

Trigger points are muscle tissues that have a difficult time relaxing. They’re commonly referred to as knots, and you can actually feel their tension in your tissues when you rub your muscles. With trigger point injection, Dr. Wallace injects a small amount of steroids and anesthetics directly into your trigger points, thereby helping them to relax and alleviating your back pain.

If you want to start working towards a pain-free back, schedule an appointment at Central Oregon Spine & Sports online or by phone today.