Injuries, aging, congenital defects, and tumors can destabilize the spine, causing pain, tingling, leg weakness, and numbness. It can cause pain as well as tingling and numbness in the legs. Most common in the lower back, herniated discs occur when the center of a disc-the spongy cushioning tissue between vertebrae-bulges outward or ruptures. This can affect nerves and cause pain and other symptoms. One of the potential consequences of arthritis is spondylolisthesis, the slipping of one vertebra over another. Arthritis can also cause additional back problems, like spinal stenosis and bone spurs. Osteoarthritis results from natural wear and tear with age, but it can also come from injuries. Arthritis affects the spine as well as other joints. Spine fractures vary in severity and might require bracing, pain medication, or surgery to correct and stabilize the spine. Sports can also cause repetitive motion damage. You can irritate the tissue in the back and spine if you are unprepared for an infrequent activity, like lifting something heavy or shoveling snow. Overuse or repetitive motion injuries can affect the back.
Back and spine orthopedists treat a wide range of conditions and injuries : They will evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical exam, run diagnostic tests, and use their expertise to get to the root of the problem. There are many potential causes of back and spine pain, which is why it is so important to see a specialist. If you have control issues or have to use the bathroom often in addition to experiencing back symptoms, you need to get it checked out. Another sign that a back condition is affecting your nerves is problems with the bowel or bladder. This indicates a nerve issue that will not get better without treatment. Problems in the back can radiate down the limbs causing pain, tingling, and numbness in the legs, feet, arms, or hands. If the pain is severe, you might need urgent care. See a specialist if it does not resolve within a few days. Sudden onset back pain usually indicates an injury, whether you can pinpoint the cause or not. They can find the underlying problem and suggest solutions that will get you back to moving more. If back pain and other symptoms limit your activity level, it is time to see a specialist. Specialists get to the root of the pain and offer both surgical and non-surgical solutions. If it lasts more than three months, the pain is considered chronic. Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, with eight out of ten people dealing with it at some point in their lives. You might want to see your primary care physician first, but if you experience any of the following symptoms, you may ultimately need a specialist: Spine and back specialists are true experts in this area of the body and help patients with any symptoms that arise there. When Do I Need a Back and Spine Orthopedist? They have completed medical school, at least five years in an orthopedic residency, and an additional year or more in a subspecialty fellowship. Orthopedic back specialist s have extensive training. They often begin with more conservative, non-surgical treatments and use surgery when necessary. Back and spine orthopedic specialists provide diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and preventative services for patients with back injuries or diseases. Orthopedists often specialize in certain areas of the body. Orthopedists are physicians who have special training in the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue.
These are health professionals who focus their expertise on conditions and injuries of the spine and back. If you have ongoing pain or other symptoms related to your back, it is time to see a specialist. Back and spine specialist s provide a variety of treatment options for back symptoms, including medications, injections, physical therapy, exercises, and surgery. Orthopedic specialists diagnose and treat conditions and injuries associated with muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.