How to Properly Clean a Diabetic Foot Wound
Diabetes can lead to dangerous foot wounds, and there are right and wrong ways to take care of them. Read on to learn how to clean a diabetic wound properly and prevent complications.
4 Nonsurgical Treatments for Lower Back Pain
The spine is a crucial aspect of your body, protecting your spinal cord and stabilizing the body. It withstands a lot of stress daily, so it's no surprise you have low back pain.
Back pain has various causes, including acute injuries and chronic conditions affecting your spine, vertebrae, and discs. Finding relief is critical and urgent when any type of back pain strikes, preferably through nonsurgical means.
Dr. Omar Osmani and the team at the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico offer conservative and surgical treatments for low back pain to the New Mexico residents.
Dr. Osmani is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who takes the time to get to the bottom of your low back pain and provides you with personalized treatments to improve discomfort and functional ability in your spine.
What causes low back pain?
You may suddenly experience low back pain after an injury or have a condition that worsens over time. The type of pain and the symptoms you experience are related to the root cause of the problem.
Low back pain has various reasons, including simple strains and sprains. However, other issues also lead to back problems, including:
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Compression fractures
- Spondylolisthesis
- Sciatica
Low back pain can be severe, lasting for several days or weeks, or dull and achy, lasting for months. You may also experience other symptoms, such as stiffness, decreased range of motion, and muscle spasms.
You're at a higher risk for low back pain if you're overweight, have a job that requires a lot of lifting, or have structural problems in your spine like scoliosis.
When to seek help for back pain
You can independently treat mild low back pain with rest, heat or ice, and gentle stretching exercises. Back pain from a strain or sprain usually goes away with at-home care in about a week.
However, if you experience severe low back pain after an injury or the pain continues even with at-home measures, it's a good time to get treatment.
You should also seek treatment for any concerning symptoms, such as leg tingling, weakness, or bowel and bladder problems that arise with back pain.
When you come into our office for back pain, our experienced team evaluates your symptoms and reviews information about when the pain started and what you were doing.
If necessary, we order imaging studies like an X-ray or MRI to look at the structures in your spine. These tests help him determine what treatment method is best for his condition.
Four effective treatments for low back pain
Most cases of low back pain don't require surgery. We can usually manage your symptoms with conservative measures.
The goal of treatment is to relieve low back pain, improve mobility, and prevent further episodes from occurring. We offer several treatment options; here are four of the most effective:
1. Physical therapy
Physical therapy is an excellent treatment for many problems, including low back pain. A physical therapist evaluates your pain and customizes a treatment plan that allows you to gain strength, flexibility, all while working to decrease your pain.
During a physical therapy session, the therapist may use manual tissue manipulation, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), and massage to loosen muscles and tissues and improve blood flow.
2. Epidural steroid injections
If physical therapy and medications haven't worked to relieve your low back pain, Dr. Osmani offers epidural steroid injections. These injections contain an anesthetic agent and a powerful corticosteroid to relieve short-term and long-term pain.
The corticosteroid works by reducing inflammation in the affected area of the spine. You may feel relief for several weeks, months, or even years after one injection.
3. Nerve blocks
When nerves cause low back pain, Dr. Osmani may recommend a nerve block to relieve pain. During a nerve block, he uses a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy to identify the problematic nerve.
He then guides a needle through the skin close to the nerve. He injects an anesthetic agent and pain-relieving medications or steroids into the nerve. The result is immediate; you might notice decreased pain over several weeks.
4. Medication management
Mild to moderate forms of low back pain may be manageable through medications. These medications may include muscle relaxers, corticosteroids, and pain medications that work together to ease muscle tightness and relieve discomfort.
If you're living with low back pain, don't hesitate to call our office in Roswell at 575-623-9101 or request an appointment on our website.
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