Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of disability. Most individuals will suffer a degree of back pain at least once in their lives.
Types of back pain include:
Lower back pain
Disc disease
Spinal Stenosis
Arthritis
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can vary from mild to very severe and can last short-term or be long-lasting. Regardless of how it happens, how long it lasts, or how bad the pain is – it makes many everyday activities difficult to do. The pain can have a slow onset or come on suddenly. Similarly, it may be intermittent or constant.
Sometimes back pain occurs after a specific movement, such as lifting or bending. Also, aging is the cause of degenerative changes in the spine. Typically this occurs in individuals in their 30’s, however it can appear earlier. Overactivity is another culprit when it comes to sudden back pain symptoms.
Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a normal change, just as wrinkles in the skin are normal. As we get older, the discs show signs of wear and tear, possibly even breaking down. If the worn out spinal discs are the source of your back pain, you have degenerative disc disease.
Sciatica
Typically, sciatica starts with a herniated disc in your lower spine. When a disc gets worn down, its soft center can begin to push out from the hard outer ring. When a disc herniates, it can put pressure on the nerves around it. When this happens to the sciatic nerve, the pain can become excruciating.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when the space surrounding the spinal cord narrows, thereby putting pressure on the cord and spinal nerves.
Symptoms of Back Pain
Back pain varies and the type of pain you experience depends on the underlying cause of the back pain. Back pain sufferers may experience the following:
Worsening with bending and lifting
Worsening with sitting
Worsening with standing and walking
Pain comes and goes, accompanied by good and bad days
Pain extending from the back into the buttocks, outer hips or legs.
I had a severe pinched sciatic nerve and Dr Carney did a nerve block in March and I am so glad I had him to treat me. I am doing great and the other doctor I called referred me. He is a wonderful doctor and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him for any back or nerve pain.
In 1999, he expertly removed a brain tumor from my 9 year old son. When I needed neurology I went directly to him for pain from a pinched nerve in my spine and he did a couple of corti-steroid shots to my spine to alleviate the pain. Even then he remembered my son well, and engaged with him as to how he was doing 17 years later. Even at the University of Michigan medical center my son’s chemo oncologist said the tumor resection of my son was done very well. I credit him for saving my son’s life.
If you find yourself suffering from back pain, Dr. Peter Carney can help. Give us a call today to discuss your treatment options at 574-389-7737.