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Back Pain Specialist

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGICAL CONSULTANTS Our Services Back Pain
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGICAL CONSULTANTS - - Orthopedics

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGICAL CONSULTANTS

Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, & Podiatry located in Merrillville, IN

Though degenerative back problems develop as you get older, it turns out that 41% of all cases of back pain occur in adults aged 18-44 years old. Whether you have sudden or chronic back pain, the board-certified physicians at Orthopaedic Surgical Consultants can help. They offer customized care that meets your individual needs, beginning with conservative treatments and only using their exceptional surgical skills as a last resort. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Merrillville, Indiana, or book online today.

Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

Back pain may suddenly appear after a sports injury or when you pull a muscle during your daily activities. However, back pain often develops gradually from overuse injuries.

Overuse injuries occur when you frequently make the same movements. The stress of repetitive movement causes small tears in the muscles and ligaments, and over time, the tear worsens, leading to inflammation and chronic pain.

You can also develop stress fractures from repetitive movements. This condition, called spondylolysis, usually occurs in your lower back.

As you get older, your spine naturally goes through changes. Spinal degeneration leads to painful conditions such as:

  • Spinal arthritis (facet joint arthritis)
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)

These conditions pinch spinal nerves and lead to spinal instability.

What symptoms accompany back pain?

If you have a back injury or degenerative condition, chances are you will also experience symptoms such as muscle spasms and limited spine movement.

Pinched nerves lead to pain and tingling or burning sensations that travel along the nerve and go down your legs. In severe cases, compressed nerves cause numbness and muscle weakness in your legs and feet.

The most common example of nerve pain, sciatica, occurs when you have a pinched sciatic nerve in your lower back. As a result, you experience sudden and often excruciating pain that radiates down one leg.

How is back pain treated?

Orthopaedic Surgical Consultants take a comprehensive approach, beginning with a complete evaluation that identifies the root cause of your pain, as well as any impairments and functional limitations.

Depending on your exam results, your provider may perform various diagnostic tests. For example, you may need blood tests, nerve studies, or an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan. 

Your provider always begins with conservative treatments, creating an individualized treatment plan that meets your unique needs and goals. Your treatment may include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Activity modification
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Spinal mobilization
  • Massage and relaxation techniques
  • Soft tissue and muscle lengthening techniques
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Facet joint injections
  • Nerve blocks
  • Trigger point injections

If you still have back pain after conservative treatment, your provider talks with you about minimally invasive surgery to repair the underlying problem. For example, they may need to decompress nerves, remove a damaged disc, or fuse two vertebrae together.

Don't wait to get help for back pain. Call Orthopaedic Surgical Consultants or book an appointment online today.