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Whether it’s acute or chronic, if you’re among the 80% of U.S. adults who’ve suffered back pain at some point, you may struggle with getting through your day. As an expert, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, Neil Tayyab, MD, can help alleviate back pain with supportive therapies or, in severe cases, minimally invasive spine surgery. Giving your back the necessary care ensures you can live a healthy, active life. Call Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc. in San Diego or Chula Vista, California, to schedule an appointment today or request one online.
What causes back pain?
There are several reasons why you may experience back pain. Acute back pain often results in muscle fatigue, sprains, and strains from overuse.
When you have persistent back pain, it may result in damage from trauma to the structures of your back or due to degenerative changes in your spine.
Some of the most common causes of chronic back pain include:
- Tumors
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Fractures
- Osteoporosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
You may also develop chronic back pain from spinal deformities or, as a result of severe trauma to the spine from a fall, auto accident, or sports injury.
If you experience chronic back pain that isn’t treatable with rest or over-the-counter medications, you shouldn’t delay a diagnostic evaluation with Dr. Tayyab.
How is back pain diagnosed?
Diagnosing chronic back pain begins with a review of your medical history, your lifestyle, and your job. Dr. Tayyab also discusses the location and severity of your pain to understand its root cause better, then performs a physical exam of your spine to determine if there’s a noticeable curvature or other deformities.
In many cases, imaging tests like X-rays and an MRI can provide Dr. Tayyab with a view of your spinal structures to identify herniated discs, areas of nerve compression, spinal stenosis, or joint damage from arthritis and osteoporosis.
Will I need surgery for chronic back pain?
Surgery is typically a last resort option for treating chronic back pain. Before considering surgery, you should try conservative methods like pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy to relieve pain and improve your range of motion.
Dr. Tayyab specializes in minimally invasive anterior and posterior lumbar spine surgery that requires only small incisions to correct spinal abnormalities and injuries.
If you have a herniated disc, surgery focuses on removing part or all of the damaged disc to relieve compression on nearby nerves that cause pain. By removing a damaged disc, Dr. Tayyab can also reduce the side effects of a compressed nerve, such as tingling and numbness throughout your back, neck, arms, and legs.
If you have spinal stenosis, Dr. Tayyab can use specialized surgical techniques to remove a portion of bone and widen the space within your spine. This provides more room for your nerves to prevent pain triggered by compression.
There are various surgical options to treat spine damage that results from traumatic injuries, including spine reconstruction surgery, fusions, and surgeries to correct adult spine deformities.
If you’re limited in what you can do because of chronic back pain, schedule a consultation with Dr. Tayyab at Girard Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group, Inc. today by calling the office nearest you or booking an evaluation online.