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Back spasms can strike unexpectedly, often with intense pain that can make even the simplest movements feel impossible. While they are common, understanding the causes and knowing when to seek medical help is crucial for effective treatment. Let’s explore the likely causes of back spasms and when it’s time to reach out to a spine specialist for further evaluation.
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80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. It may come from work issues, playing sports, or just putting on their shoes. Sciatica and sacroiliitis are common among these. Dull ache vs shooting pain is just one difference between the two conditions. The symptoms, causes, and treatments for these two conditions are different. What is the difference between sciatica and sacroiliitis?
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We live in a world of instant gratification. After going through back surgery, most patients expect their back pain to disappear after surgery. They may think they will wake up, and the pain will be gone. In a lot of cases, some back pain is normal in the first 72 hours post surgery, so don’t panic. Let us describe what is normal and what is not. Back pain after surgery? Here’s what to know.
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Young athletes are frequently affected by the conditions spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Although we won’t try saying those conditions five times fast, we will try explaining the difference between them.
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Let’s start with a quiz.
Question 1: Do your symptoms go down one leg or both?
Question 2: How far down do the symptoms go?
Question 3: Do you feel better when you sit or stand?
Question 4: Does walking bring on your symptoms?
How you answered these questions will initially indicate whether you could have spinal stenosis or sciatica and will help with understanding the difference between spinal stenosis and sciatica.
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Spinal fusion surgery is performed to stabilize the spine. It is major surgery with general anesthesia. It reinforces the back by linking two vertebrae together. Many times it is a last resort after other treatments have been tried and failed at providing relief. Let’s learn more about why you might need this surgery, and how long is the recovery for a spinal fusion? Continue reading “How Long Is the Recovery for a Spinal Fusion?”
Is pain affecting your quality of life? If that pain is in either your neck area or the lumbar area of your spine, there are surgical methods to correct these painful conditions by replacing damaged spinal discs with artificial or manufactured discs. The procedure is minimally invasive and involves a short hospital stay. What are the benefits of artificial disc replacement?
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If you have a condition like spinal instability, bone spurs, a herniated disc, scoliosis, or spinal tumors, or many other spinal issues, you may need spinal surgery. If that sounds frightening, you would not be alone. Any kind of spine surgery is worrisome, but the best case is through minimally invasive procedures. Let’s learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery and how it works.
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What are the signs of a slipped disc? They are exactly the same as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or a ruptured disc, since they are all generally the same. The terms are interchangeable. It mostly occurs in the lumbar region or lower part of your back and spine, although it can also happen in the neck area. We will continue to use the term “slipped” throughout and help you understand how to recognize a slipped disc, what can cause it, and what to do about it.
Our spine consists of bones known as vertebrae. In between each vertebrae is a flexible cushion known as a disc which helps us to move and twist. Inside is a rubbery jelly-like cushion called the nucleus which is covered by a tougher exterior called the annulus.
If there is a tear in the annulus and some of the nucleus pushes out, that is a slipped disc. Some people experience no symptoms with a slipped disc, but others do and it’s quite painful.
A slipped disc can affect people of all ages.
People most likely to be susceptible include those who:
Back pain is the leading reason for lost work hours, workmen’s compensations, and trips to the emergency room. Consider making some lifestyle changes to prevent a slipped disc.
It’s easy to confuse a muscle strain with a slipped disc. A muscle strain in your lower back is characterized by aching local pain during the strain. There may be swelling, inflammation, and even bruising.
A slipped disc has sharp and radiating pain instead of the localized aching pain of a muscle strain. There may be neurological symptoms like numbness and tingling. A slipped disc may also cause weakness in your arms or legs. You will especially have pain while you are sitting.
Sciatica pain is similar with its radiating pain down the thigh and legs.
Immediately see a professional if your pain worsens, if you have bladder or bowel dysfunction, and if you experience saddle anesthesia. This is a numbness in your inner thighs, back of the legs, genitals or around the rectum. These symptoms can be a medical emergency.
Refrain from stretching and moving too much and don’t try to treat yourself. You should immediately make an appointment to see Texas Spine Associates for an evaluation and diagnosis at one of our nine spine clinics in the DFW area.
Pain can become more severe with certain tasks, so be sure to:
Your spine specialist may treat your slipped disc with medication, physical therapy, injections to relieve inflammation and pain, along with some suggestions for lifestyle modifications.
If you are experiencing signs of a slipped disc, contact Texas Spine Associates for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Give us a call at (972) 987-0969 or request an appointment through our secure online form. We have spine clinics in Arlington, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Granbury, Irving, North Irving, Southlake, and Weatherford.
It can happen in the most innocuous ways like bending down to tie your shoes. You are suddenly in extreme pain, you can barely stand up straight, and getting into a car is a non-starter. You probably have your own story about throwing your back out, and you remember it well. So exactly what does it mean to “throw your back out”?
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