Back Pain Doctor
A back injury can and often does significantly disrupt your normal day-to-day life. This is why back pain and injuries are primary reasons for missing work, missing school, disability, and doctor’s visits in the United Sates. Due to the nature of a back injury it can leave you unable to sit for long periods of time, exercise normally, play sports, or even just moving throughout your day. It is why getting a back injury looked at is imperative to getting back to normal.
There are many different types of injuries that can affect the soft tissues, joints, bones, and nerves that make up the back. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most common back injuries.
- Soft Tissue Injuries
One of the most common types of injuries is to the soft tissue in the back. It can either be a sprain or a strain but both can cause intense pain. A sprain is when the ligaments overstretch or tear while a strain is when the muscles or tendons overstretch or tear.
The two most common reasons for a soft tissue injury are traumatic injuries like car accidents or overuse injuries from repetitive motions. Many athletes fall into overuse injury as they are putting constant strain on their bodies.
Some of the most common symptoms are tightness, stiffness, muscle spasms, and difficulty moving. Soft tissue injuries are usually treatable with self-care at home but some do need medical attention.
- Herniated Discs
The second most common back injury is a herniated disc. Between the bones in the spine there are these flexible discs that provide cushioning, absorb shock, and aid with spinal movement. Each of these discs is made of a soft, jelly-like nucleus surrounded by a tough outer ring of ligaments.
When a herniated disc happens it is when there is a tear in the outer ring that pushes the nucleus into the spine. The two most common reasons for this are wear and tear from age and a traumatic injury. While some people have no symptoms of pain there could be weakness, numbness, or tingling if a herniated disc isn’t treated.
- Degenerative Injures
It is common as we grow older that the spine naturally degenerates and loses normal function. It is a sad part about growing older. The body is stiffer and doesn’t move as it did before. One of the biggest factors in that is arthritis. Your spine is made up of joints and that is where arthritis takes hold. It can cause the cartilage that covers the joints to erode and cause friction on the bones.
Another common disease is degenerative disc disease and it is when the spinal discs crack, dry out, flatten, collapse, or herniate with age. Both cause pain and can impact day-to-day life easily.
When it comes to back pain look for a back pain doctor for specialized care. When you come to AmeriWell Clinics you can know you are in good hands.