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Breaking Free from Back Pain

The spine is made up of strong bones called vertebrae. A vertebra can break, however, just like any other bone in the body. When a vertebra breaks and then collapses, it is called a vertebral compression fracture. Compression fractures happen most commonly in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine). In the worst cases, such fractures and the resulting compression of the spine can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, either from the compression itself or from the protrusion of bone into the nerves of the spinal cord.

Back Pain

The back is one of our most important anatomic structures, providing support and facilitating mobility and balance for the entire body, as well as protecting the spinal cord. Because of the loads placed on it each and every day, it's no surprise this well-designed structure, consisting of bones (vertebrae), discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, is particularly susceptible to injury and other conditions that may have you reaching for the heating pad - or your doctor's phone number.

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain

Acute pain is commonly described as sharp and severe; it tends to come on suddenly but also improve with time and short-term conservative treatment, such as medication, exercise, physical therapy or rest. Chronic pain is commonly described as a deep, aching, dull or burning pain, and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling and/or weakness that extends into the extremities. Chronic pain tends to last a long time and is not relieved by conservative care. When you feel pain, it's your body's natural reaction to signals transmitted from the pain source, which travel through the nerves in the spinal cord and up to the brain, where they are perceived as pain.

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Causes

Many sudden attacks of acute back pain are the result of overstretched muscles (strains) or ligaments (sprains). The pain may be most severe immediately after injury, or it may worsen gradually over a few hours. In most instances, back pain as a result of strain or sprain can be resolved following a conservative course of treatment - usually within two to six weeks - provided there are no serious underlying medical conditions.

Common causes of strains and sprains that can trigger acute back pain include:

  • Improper lifting
  • Sudden, strenuous physical effort
  • Accident, sports injury or fall
  • Sleeping position and/or pillow positioning
  • Poor sitting or standing posture
  • Bending forward too long
  • "Hiking" your shoulder to hold the phone receiver to your ear
  • Carrying a heavy purse, briefcase or backpack
  • Stress and muscle tension

Physical conditions that can possibly contribute to the onset of acute back pain include:

  • Lack of muscle tone
  • Excess weight
  • Pregnancy

Other causes of back pain include:

Mechanical Disorders

Many people who suffer from back problems are experiencing mechanical pain, which means that a specific part of their spine, such as an intervertebral disc, a ligament, or a joint is damaged and is not working correctly. Examples of spinal mechanical disorders include degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spondylolysis/spondylolysthesis, arthritis and spinal stenosis.

Developmental Disorders

Developmental disorders of the lower back are caused by abnormalities in the formation and growth of the skeleton. Although the treatment for many of these conditions is conservative, surgery may be required to keep some disorders from worsening, and in order to prevent long-term disability and or deformity. Scoliosis and kyphosis are examples of developmental disorders of the spine.

Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders

Infections of the spinal column are not common, but they are important because they are difficult to diagnose and there are serious consequences in the delay of an accurate diagnosis.

Tumors

Cancers and tumors of the spine and spinal cord are relatively rare. The most common symptom that patients with a spinal tumor have is pain. Because back pain is very common, it is also not a specific symptom of any one disease or medical condition.

Trauma

Trauma to the spine refers to injury that has occurred to the bony elements, soft tissues and/or neurological structures, resulting in instability of the vertebral column and actual or potential neurological injury.

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Treatment Options When Should I See My Doctor?

When your back hurts, the first step is to assess the severity and cause of your back pain to determine whether you need to see a physician. Consult a physician immediately if you:

  • Are experiencing back pain as a result of a physical trauma involving your spine, such as a fall or car accident
  • Are experiencing numbness in, or having difficulty moving, your extremities
  • Experience bladder control loss or impairment
  • Develop a fever or severe headache
  • Are over 60 and have been taking steroids for a long period of time
  • Experience chest pain or pain in the left arm
  • Are pregnant
  • In instances of acute back pain, do not experience any improvement after 72 hours of self-treatment at home
  • Have experienced chronic back pain for more than 6 weeks

If you are experiencing back pain, talk to your doctor about appropriate treatment options. Identifying the cause of your back pain, alleviating the pain - either at home or with your physician's help - and avoiding re-injury are key to the healing process.

Back Pain Specialist

Regardless of whether back pain is acute or chronic, it’s almost always disabling. If you find it hard to live a full life because of back pain, experienced surgeons Steve Paragioudakis, MD, and Marc Menkowitz, MD at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine can help. They specialize in diagnosing and treating back pain and use minimally invasive spine surgery and robotic surgery. Find out how you could benefit from their expertise by calling one of their locations in Shrewsbury, Toms River, or Edison, New Jersey. Call or book an appointment online today.

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Back Pain Q & A

What's causing my back pain?

What treatments are available for back pain?

What kind of surgery might I need for back pain?

What's causing my back pain?

Back pain can sometimes be a symptom of an internal disease, but more often than not, it's a result of damage to your musculoskeletal structures. Common examples include strained muscles, pinched nerves, and problems with the discs that provide cushioning between your vertebrae. These injuries are often due to overexertion, lifting without using the right technique, awkward movements, falls, and sports injuries. Chronic back pain frequently arises from disorders such as:

  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Facet joint syndrome
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Herniated discs
  • Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy)
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Scoliosis
  • Spondylosis
  • Vertebral compression fractures
  • Kyphosis

To diagnose the cause of your back pain, your provider at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine performs a comprehensive physical examination and review of your medical history and symptoms. They might order diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT or MRI scans, a bone scan, discogram, or myelogram, and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests along with an electromyogram.

What treatments are available for back pain?

The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine team uses conservative treatments for most patients with back pain. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and approaches like acupuncture are often very effective in reducing pain and improving function. For patients whose back pain doesn't improve after a course of conservative treatment, there are further measures that can help. These could include:

  • Epidural steroid injections
  • IDET (intradiscal electrothermal therapy)
  • Percutaneous disc nucleoplasty
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty

When your condition isn't responding to any other approaches or in cases where the cause of your back pain isn't treatable using other means, surgery might be necessary.

What kind of surgery might I need for back pain?

The expert team at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine use minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) techniques and robotic surgery wherever possible to reduce tissue damage. These methods have significant benefits for patients as they cause less pain, bleeding, and scarring, and wounds heal much more quickly. Some of the surgeries for back pain that the team performs regularly include:

  • Microdiscectomy
  • Artificial disc replacement
  • Laminotomy
  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
  • Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
  • Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF)
  • Endoscopic decompression
  • Dekompressor discectomy

If you have back pain that's severe, disabling, or isn't responding to simple self-care measures, the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine team can help. Call the office or schedule a consultation online today.

Find Out How Good You Can Feel Let’s Make Pain-Free Your New Normal

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