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To say that back pain is common is an understatement — approximately 80% of adults in the United States experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. At Desert Pain Specialists, Roland Reinhart, MD, and Meaghan Berglund, PA-C, specialize in back pain of all varieties, using the latest techniques to help their patients in Rancho Mirage, California, find much-needed relief. Find out how Desert Pain Solutions can help you get rid of your back pain. Call the office or request an evaluation online today.
What makes up the back?
Your back can generally be divided into four sections:
- Your thoracic region (upper back)
- Your lumbar region (low back)
- Your sacral region
- Your coccyx
The foundational support of your back consists of the 33 vertebrae that run from your neck to your pelvis, which are divided by 23 discs. Surrounding your spine are the myriad of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provide crucial support.
Not only does your back provide your body with a base of support, but it also provides passage for your nervous system, which is why back pain can be so debilitating, since there are so many nerve roots that branch out from your spine.
What are the most common causes of back pain?
Our lower back is arguably the most active, injury-prone area of our musculoskeletal system. Considering the workload placed on your back, it’s little wonder that back pain develops as often as it does.
The most common causes of back pain encompass a wide range of conditions, including:
- Muscle strain or spasm
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Sciatica
- Osteoporosis
- Skeletal irregularities, such as scoliosis
- Failed back surgery syndrome
In far less common cases, diseases like cancer can also lead to back pain.
How is back pain diagnosed and treated?
When it comes to back pain, the first order of business is properly diagnosing its source. The team at Desert Pain Specialists conducts an extensive review of your symptoms, an examination, and advanced imaging.
Once your provider has a better idea of what’s causing your pain, there are a number of solutions that will bring you comfort and restore your quality of life, including:
- Anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications
- Trigger point injection
- Epidural injections
- Medial branch injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Botox injection
- Kyphoplasty
- Nerve blocks
- Spinal cord stimulator
While these interventional pain management techniques are designed to provide you with relief, there are many other steps you can take to offset back pain, including a physical therapy program to strengthen your back.
Your Desert Pain Specialists provider may also make some lifestyle suggestions to mitigate some of your risk factors for developing back pain, such as losing weight, smoking cessation or exercising more.
If you’re suffering from back pain, call the office or request an appointment online today.