Back Pain Treatment

Back pain is a common experience for people with active lifestyles or other medical conditions. If your back pain becomes unbearable, visit a back pain urgent care center like Ortho OIC. Our doctors and team specialize in orthopedic treatments to ensure patients have access to urgent back pain care. We’ll provide treatment whenever you need medical assistance near Arlington, Virginia.

Learn about back pain and how we can provide you with quality treatment.

What Is Back Pain?

Back pain consists of uncomfortable sensations like aches, stiffness, throbbing and more in your back. It typically occurs in the lower back region and can result from various conditions, like arthritis, structural issues or injuries to the surrounding muscles, tendons or disks.

Depending on the extent of the injury, your pain may range from mild to severe. You could experience acute back pain, short-term pain that usually only lasts for a few weeks, or chronic back pain, which is long-term and can last for months or even be recurrent. Chronic back pain may be severe enough to hinder your daily activities and lifestyle.

Symptoms of Back Pain

You can develop back pain and its symptoms gradually or suddenly. Some symptoms may last for a short time, while others may carry on for days or weeks. Common symptoms of back pain include:

  • Muscle spasms.
  • Stiffness.
  • Posture issues.

Signs of Serious Back Pain

Sometimes back pain is inevitable, such as after strenuous activity. However, when back pain starts negatively affecting your quality of life, preventing you from performing daily functions and making you feel weaker, there could be a more serious issue.

Since back pain is often a sign of another physical condition or injury, you may also experience symptoms in other parts of your body. Some signs that could indicate your back pain is a part of a larger concern include:

  • Sudden spike in discomfort, pain, numbness or weakness.
  • Shooting pain in the thigh or leg.
  • Severe stomach pain.
  • Unexplainable weight loss.
  • Lost feeling or numbness in the leg.
  • Sciatica.
  • Compromise of bowel or bladder functions.

If you experience any severe symptoms, talk with your doctor to find the most effective treatments to help reduce pain. Some immediate remedies for back pain management include heat and ice. Placing a heating pad on your lower back can help relieve symptoms like muscle tension. If you have swelling, try icing your back to reduce it. 

Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be helpful. When you take the medication, ensure you follow the directions and take them with food. Confirm with your doctor that taking anti-inflammatory medication is safe for you if you have a sensitive stomach.

Common Causes of Back Pain

Everyone experiences back pain at some point in their lives. Whether you move wrong at some point during the day or have a health condition, back pain is inevitable. A few common causes of back pain include:

  • Ligament or muscle strain: You can strain your back muscles and ligaments with repetitive or awkward movements. Straining your muscles and ligaments can cause painful spasms.
  • Herniated discs: A herniated or bulging disc in your back can often cause pain in your lower back. When the soft material inside the disc ruptures, it presses on a nerve, causing pain in your back.
  • Arthritis: The gradual thinning of cartilage in your spine can develop arthritis. In rare cases, people can have a form of arthritis, such as ankylosing spondylitis, which can lead to a stiff back.
  • Osteoporosis: If your spinal bones become brittle and porous, you could develop painful fractures in your vertebrae.

Can Orthopedic Specialists Care for Back Pain?

You can visit an orthopedic specialist when you need treatment for your back pain. Orthopedic specialists are experts in treating musculoskeletal conditions, which are common back pain instigators. Many orthopedic treatment plans specifically address injuries affecting muscles and tendons. Orthopedic specialists and back pain doctors ensure every patient can access effective treatments.

Orthopedic specialists can use various techniques to provide pain relief. These methods include:

  • Physical therapy: Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you find pain relief. Physical therapy will provide you with exercises tailored to help your specific condition and symptoms. Controlled movements can help relieve your back pain while strengthening the muscles in your back.
  • Injections: You can receive injections like nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections and more to help with your back pain. Injections work best when you and your doctor know the source of pain. They can lessen or stop pain for some time before you need the injections again.
  • Medication: Medication like anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and analgesics can also help lessen back pain. They are a short-term solution. If your pain is severe, doctors can also prescribe narcotic medications to help you deal with it, though you need to be careful because of their addictive side effects.
  • Massage therapy: Relieve back pain by getting massage therapy every couple of weeks. Massages can help reduce muscle tension, painful spasms and contractions. They’re also an ideal type of stiff back treatment.
  • Back brace: Your doctor may also suggest a back brace to reduce pain and provide comfort. A back brace can help you retain stability and reduce pressure on your weakened spinal structures.

Whenever you seek treatment for back pain, ensure you receive the opinion and help from a qualified orthopedic specialist. Your specialist can determine the proper diagnosis and construct a personalized treatment plan. They will also help discover if your back pain results from any underlying issues.

Come to Ortho OIC for Back Pain Treatment

The back pain specialists at Ortho OIC are available to help you whether you suffer from minor or severe back pain. We’ll ensure you receive the proper treatment to help you find relief and prevent further pain. You can visit us for back pain urgent care whenever you need a solution for your back pain.

Ortho OIC serves patients from Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, to Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Start finding back pain relief when you come to Ortho OIC. Book an appointment on our online portal or call us to speak with a representative today!