Back & spine pain can make your life a lot more difficult. Even small tasks can become incredibly painful and cause a lot of stress. You may find yourself unable to do the activities you love or unable to take care of your family in the way you want to due to the pain that comes with orthopedic issues. It’s important not to let things get out of hand, which is why it’s so important for individuals suffering from back & spine problems or any other kind of ortho issue.
Not everyone understands exactly what an orthopedic doctor actually does, but they are specialized medical professionals with a focus on musculoskeletal health. Ortho doctors can help you understand and diagnose any issues affecting your back & spine or other orthopedic areas of the body. It’s important to seek out treatment from an experienced orthopedic doctor in order to ensure that you get the best possible outcome for your condition.
Let’s take this opportunity to explore what these kinds of doctors do and what kind of pain they exactly help treat. We will also look more into the treatments and options available to help you get your back & spine, or any other body part affected by an orthopedic issue, on track.
Knowing the facts about these types of specialists can help you make an informed decision when it comes to seeking treatment.
The Specialities of Orthopedic Doctors and Surgeons
The first step in understanding how orthopedic doctors and surgeons can help with back & spine pain is to understand the different specialties they focus on. Ortho doctors are specialists that focus on conditions of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments. This means they specialize in any issue related to these areas of the body such as tendonitis or arthritis.
The musculoskeletal system has many parts; these include parts of your body such as:
- Hands/Wrists:
- These include bones like the phalanges, carpal bones, and metacarpals as well as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Elbows/Shoulders:
- This area consists of joints like the acromioclavicular joint and shoulder blades in addition to muscles such as deltoids, biceps brachii, and triceps brachii.
- Hips/Knees:
- The hips are made up of a complex network of parts including the ilium (hip bone), femur (thighbone), and acetabulum while your knees contain several important structures such as the patella (knee cap) tibiofemoral joint & cruciate ligament.
- Feet/Ankles:
- Feet house 26 different types of small bones known collectively called tarsal or foot bones along with an intricate system that includes various muscles & tendons which help us maintain balance when walking or running. Ankles consist mainly of two large long based bones; Tibia & Fibula while also containing many smaller ones essential for movement which include the talus cuboid.
Orthopedic doctors have extensive knowledge about these areas so they can identify any problems you might have and treat them effectively. They are also knowledgeable in various medical treatments and procedures, such as medications, physical therapy, immobilization (splints or casts), and even surgical operations.
There are many different specialties within the field of orthopedics including:
- Sports Medicine:
- Specialists focus on injuries related to athletic activities like running & jumping. They provide treatment for sprains & strains as well as rehabilitation from more serious injuries like ACL/MCL tears or fractures
- Pediatric Orthopedics:
- Specialists in pediatric orthopedic care focus on the development, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal problems for babies, children, and adolescents.
- Spine Surgery/Neurosurgery:
- These specialists diagnose & treat disorders affecting the spine such as herniated discs or scoliosis. They may perform surgery to repair these injuries if needed.
- Orthopedic Trauma Surgery:
- This specialty focuses on treating traumatic injuries like broken bones, dislocated joints, and other types of trauma to the musculoskeletal system caused by accidents or violence.
Depending upon your particular issue an ortho doctor can recommend the best course of action for treatment. They can also provide helpful advice and support to help you manage your pain, such as physical therapy or lifestyle adjustments. With experienced orthopedic doctors on your side, it is much easier to get your back & spine on track and feel better again.
Treatments Available For Back & Spine Pain Relief
When it comes to back & spine pain relief, there are a variety of treatments available depending on the issue. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from your orthopedic doctor before beginning any treatment plan in order to ensure that you get the best possible outcome for your specific condition.
There are many common spinal issues that can be treated by ortho doctors including:
- Herniated Discs:
- A herniated disc is when one of the discs between two vertebrae becomes damaged or ruptured and presses on nearby nerves. This can cause severe pain and numbness along with other symptoms like tingling in limbs or weakness in muscles.
- Spinal Stenosis:
- Spinal stenosis occurs when spaces within the spine narrow due to age, injury, or disease causing pressure onto nerve roots from surrounding bones & tissue which leads to stiffness & pain throughout the body as well as difficulty walking long distances without rest stops being needed due to exhaustion.
- Spondylolisthesis:
- Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward over another, causing compression of nerves and can lead to pain & discomfort throughout the entire body as well as numbness in limbs due to nerve irritation.
- Fractured Vertebrae:
- This type of injury is usually caused by an accident or fall and can cause severe pain along with difficulty moving the affected area due to a lack of stability from fractured bones pressing against nearby tissue & nerves leading to them being compressed which leads to extreme levels of discomfort for the patient.
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD):
- DDD is a condition where discs between two vertebrae start wearing down which causes them to become flat or lose their cushioning effect, this results in bone grinding on bone when performing certain activities resulting in inflammation & chronic joint/muscle pains that last long periods if untreated properly through medication or surgery depending on the severity of the problem at hand.
Once your orthopedic doctor has identified what’s causing your back & spine issues they will recommend the best course(s) of action for treating it based on their diagnosis and understanding of your individual case.
Common treatments for spinal issues include:
- Physical Therapy (PT):
- PT is a great way to help relieve pain and improve mobility. Exercises, stretches and massage techniques can all be used to help reduce inflammation & strengthen muscles around the affected area so that they can support your spine more effectively.
- Medication:
- Your doctor may prescribe medications like anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants to help reduce the inflammation & alleviate some of the pain associated with spinal issues. Pain relief medication is also available which should be taken with caution as it can become addictive if abused or overused without proper medical supervision from an experienced orthopedic doctor who understands the risks involved in taking such medications.
- Immobilization:
- Splints, braces, and casts are sometimes used for immobilizing a particular area so that it does not move too much while healing takes place; this helps prevent further injury from occurring due to lack of stability caused by damaged bones pressing against nearby tissue/nerves leading them being compressed which leads too extreme levels of discomfort for the patient at hand (if any).
- Surgery:
- Surgery may be necessary in more severe cases where other treatments aren’t working well enough or when there is nerve damage present due to herniated discs or fractured vertebrae causing intense pain throughout the body along with numbness in limbs due to nerve irritation stemming from the problems at hand.
It is important to remember that not all treatments will work for everyone. It is important to discuss with your orthopedic doctor what treatment options are best suited for you and if any of them have the potential to cause further complications down the line. With proper care and guidance from an experienced orthopedic doctor, you can get your back & spine on track so that it’s pain-free once again.
A Life With Less Pain Is Possible
Living with back & spine pain can really take its toll on your life. You may find yourself limited in the activities you do and unable to enjoy life as much due to the discomfort that comes with it. Seeking out treatment from an experienced orthopedic doctor is key when it comes to relieving this kind of pain and reclaiming your quality of life.
With proper care, support, and guidance from an expert ortho doctor, you can get your back & spine on track so that it’s free of any annoying aches or pains.
This means less time spent worrying about how every movement could cause more discomfort and more time spent doing what you love like going for a walk, playing sports or just enjoying some quiet moments at home without having to worry about feeling uncomfortable.