When to See a Pain Specialist for Your Bad Back

Back pain is a common issue that almost everyone experiences at some point in life. In many cases, you can manage a bad back with some self-care basics, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. But how do you know when to visit a specialist for your condition? 

Here at Alliance Spine & Pain Centers in Austell, Georgia, we’re board-certified physicians with the expertise and experience to diagnose and treat your back pain. Ignoring back pain can lead to debilitating conditions long-term. That’s why we want you to know when it’s time to consider making an appointment at our practice.

Symptoms of a bad back

When you have back pain, you should pay attention to how long you’ve had it. If your at-home remedies haven’t resolved your issue over time, you may need medical care. Prolonged back pain might indicate you have a severe, chronic issue that needs a proper diagnosis and treatment.

If your symptoms last a week or more, or if your condition worsens and you’re in excruciating pain, schedule an evaluation with our team as soon as possible.

Other signs to watch for include:

• Limited range of motion
• Instability while standing
• Numbness or weakness in your legs or feet  
• Muscle spasms
• Pain that limits your livelihood

Back pain can also indicate you have a deeper issue. If accompanied by symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting, you need to see one of our specialists right away. 

Causes of back pain

There are several causes of back pain. Aging plays a significant role in the health of your back. As you get older, your joints naturally experience wear-and-tear over time, which causes degenerative issues that can affect your health, like osteoarthritis, slipped or herniated disks, or spinal stenosis.

You can also have back pain because of an accident, which calls for seeing a specialist to make sure you don’t have a significant injury. 

In addition, back pain can stem from poor posture or simply throwing your back out from lifting heavy objects or twisting wrong.

Treatment options

After a comprehensive evaluation, we develop a customized treatment plan to relieve your pain so you can get back to your normal, daily routine. We use cutting-edge technology with innovative treatments to give you a superior experience and successful outcome.

We provide many options to relieve your pain at Alliance Spine & Pain Centers. Some of our most common treatments include:

• Spinal cord stimulator

• Epidural steroid injections

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Nerve blocks

• Kyphoplasty 

• Platelet-rich plasma injections

During your consultation, we discuss your treatment options, giving you detailed insight into what each one offers. We tailor your plan to your needs and lifestyle to give you the best results.

For easy appointment scheduling, call our friendly office staff today during business hours or book online at any time.