Back and Neck Pain
Back and Neck Pain
Are you suffering from back pain or are you dealing with a complex neck condition? Our back, neck and spine doctors in San Antonio are here with safe back and spine care, close to home.
What Causes Back, Neck and Spine Pain?
Spine injuries and degenerative disc disease can be some of the most disabling conditions that affect the human body. In addition to the direct effect of these injuries on the musculoskeletal system, the spine also houses the spinal cord and numerous nerve roots that form our peripheral nervous system.
Pain, weakness, and sensory loss resulting from damage to these structures can be profound, making these conditions extremely challenging to treat. Because of this, it is critical to determine the root cause of each patient’s symptoms, which are oftentimes multifactorial in nature.
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the United States, affecting about 8 out of 10 Americans at some point in their lives. It can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp pain.
The most common causes of neck pain are soft-tissue (muscle and ligament) abnormalities due to injury (a strain or sprain) or prolonged wear and tear (commonly known as arthritis). In rare instances, infection or tumors may cause neck pain. In some people, neck problems may be the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders or arms.
Many things can cause back and neck pain. Some of these triggers may include the following:
- Sprain
- Strain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Spondylolisthesis (where a bone in the spine slips forward or out of alignment and presses onto a bone below it)
- Spinal stenosis (where the space inside the bones of the spine becomes too small)
- Fractured vertebrae
- Scoliosis
- Inflammatory arthritis of the spine, such as ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spine joints and ligaments)
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia (a chronic condition that causes body pain)
- Endometriosis (a condition where the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pain)
- Infections that affect the bones of the spine or discs
- Tumors
- Pregnancy
At-Home Remedies for Back and Neck Pain
Back and neck pain may be alleviated with self-care, such as rest, icing the area, or improving posture.
Poor posture can lead to back pain, increased stress on ligaments holding spinal joints together, and muscle strain and/or injury. To maintain proper posture, you need good muscle flexibility and strength, normal joint motion in your spine and efficient postural muscles that are balanced on both sides of your spine.
Tips for improving your posture when you sit down include:
- Keep both feet on the floor, or if they don’t reach the floor, place them on a footrest.
- Don’t cross your legs. Keep your ankles in front of your knees.
- Maintain a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.
- Keep your knees at or below the level of your hips.
- Adjust the backrest of your chair to support your low- and mid-back, or use a back support.
- Relax your shoulders while keeping your forearms parallel to the ground.
- Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.
Tips for improving your posture when you stand up include:
- Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet.
- Keep your knees slightly bent.
- Maintain your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of your body.
- Stand straight and tall while keeping your shoulders pulled backward.
- Tuck your stomach in.
- Keep your head level. Your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders. Don’t push your head forward, backward or to the side.
- Shift your weight from your toes to your heels — or from one foot to the other — if you have to stand for a long time.
- Sometimes medical treatments are needed, such as medication, physical therapy, or injection therapy. If nonsurgical treatments are not helping, surgical options may be considered.
When Should I Visit A Doctor For Neck Pain?
When neck pain does not improve after a few days or weeks, some medical treatment or guidance is likely needed to alleviate symptoms. Getting an accurate medical diagnosis for the cause of neck pain can help set up a more effective treatment plan.
Neck pain requires immediate medical attention if it is accompanied by any of the following:
- Radiating pain into both arms or legs
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or legs
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Unintended weight loss
- Fever or chills
- Severe headache with stiff neck
When Should I Visit A Doctor For Back Pain?
Most back pain goes away with rest and medication. However, if your back pain does not improve after three days, you should consult your doctor, especially if you have back pain following an injury. Some signs and symptoms that may require a trip to the hospital include:
- Numbness and tingling
- Severe back pain that does not improve with over-the-counter pain relief
- Back pain after a fall or injury
- Back pain along with
- Trouble urinating
- Weakness, pain or numbness in the legs
- Fever
- Unintended weight loss
Back, Neck And Spine Conditions Treated
Some of the most common spine conditions our physicians help treat include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Degenerative back and neck conditions
- Headaches
- Herniated disc
- Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Pinched nerve
- Ruptured disc
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal arthritis
- Spinal cord compression
- Spinal deformities
- Spinal disc deterioration
- Spinal fractures/trauma
- Spinal tumors
Find a Back, Neck and Spine Doctor
We have a team of experienced back providers who use advanced technology and techniques, combined with supportive therapies, to treat a wide range of neck and back problems and help minimize the time you need to spend on recovery.
Click the button below to find a doctor near you.
Back, Neck and Spine Treatment Available in San Antonio, TX
Treatment begins with identifying the cause of pain through history taking, physical examination, and diagnostic testing (X-ray, CT, MRI, and/or electromyography (EMG), etc.). It is paramount to develop an understanding of co-morbid medical conditions that can affect the spine.
At your first appointment, your doctor may ask the following questions:
- When did you first start experiencing pain?
- What treatment or medications have you tried to alleviate the pain?
- Does your pain vary based on the time of day or activity you are performing? (i.e. Is it worse in the morning? Is it worse when you are standing vs. sitting?)
- What other conditions have you been diagnosed with?
Non-surgical treatment of neck and back conditions typically includes some combination of activity modifications, physical therapy, medications, and injections when indicated. In advanced conditions, surgical consultation may be indicated.
We offer:
- Injections and procedures for pain relief, such as:
- Cervical, thoracic and lumbar epidural steroid injections
- Cervical, thoracic and lumbar facet joint injections
- Sacroiliac joint injections
- Peripheral joint injections
- Trigger point injections
- Cervical, thoracic and lumbar medial branch nerve blocks
- Genicular nerve blocks
- Sympathetic nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency ablation for the spine and knees
- EMG/Nerve conduction studies
- Pain management services, such as:
- Pharmacologic management of pain
- Work-related pain and injury management
- Therapy to help improve strength and mobility, such as:
- Sports injury treatment
- Musculoskeletal rehab
- General physical medicine and rehabilitation