Most Common Causes Of Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common of complaints. It’s the most common ailment that brings patients to Integrated Pain Consultants, particularly for those looking for an alternative to opioid prescriptions. In the U.S., lower back pain is the number-one cause of disability. The Global Burden of Disease reports that it has also skyrocketed to become the leading cause of disability around the world. In the U.S, Americans spend over $50 billion each year to treat back pain—but that only encompasses the obvious costs. Tertiary costs and long-term costs are likely much higher.

CAUSES OF BACK PAIN

Treating back pain and the root cause is equally important. Since back pain is so common, it’s also common to just accept it. Back pain has been linked to simply getting older and the body wearing down. This is especially true now that we’re living longer than ever. After all, back pain is usually caused by issues within the vertebra, an incredible system with many working parts that is burdened with a lot of stress.

Carrying extra weight is also linked to back pain. After all, this weight is an added strain to the already over-worked spinal column. Poor posture can cause back pain, and it’s highly prevalent in a society that is seated for much of the waking hours. Today, the common posture is tucked buttocks and shoulders slouched forward. This is not conducive to a healthy back.

TREATMENT FOR BACK PAIN

From poor flexibility to sleeping wrong and simple genetics, there’s usually more than one cause of back pain. In some cases losing weight or working on your posture can help, but patients deserve immediate, safe, and effective pain management, too. These can include epidural steroid injections for immediate relief, medial branch block injections to gauge candidacy for radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation.

There are pain management options that use your body’s own materials to encourage the healing of the body and lessening of inflammation. In some cases, pain management can give patients the ability to work through exercises to improve posture that otherwise would be impossible. Find out more about your options for back pain management by calling Integrated Pain Consultants at 480-626-2552. We also invite you to learn more about Dr. Nikesh Seth and other providers including Dr. Anne-Marie Cosijns, Dr. Michael Givens, and our team of Nurse Practitioners.