Back Pain Doctor In Bluffton, SC
Have you been searching for a local back pain doctor here in Bluffton, SC? If the answer is yes, we are thrilled your Google search brought you here to Southern Coast Spine & Pain Specialists, a true local back pain specialists serving patients in Bluffton and across the Lowcountry!
Debilitating chronic back pain impacts your quality of life. Without relief, you’ll miss out on the things you love. In fact, back pain is one of the most frequent causes of disability among Americans today.
Seek out a spine and back doctor to provide effective, noninvasive treatment for both acute injuries and chronic tissue deterioration. At Southern Coast Spine & Pain Specialists, you’ll find a Bluffton back doctor who will address the root cause of your pain instead of simply prescribing meds to mask it.
What Causes Back Pain?
Many things can cause your back or spine to hurt. It can be due to a kidney infection or meningitis. A sports or work-related injury may trigger the problem. But it’s usually caused by the deterioration of your spine and surrounding soft tissues. In other words, normal wear and tear on your body’s tissues causes them to break down and cause chronic pain.
In many cases, back pain can be difficult to diagnose, leading to years of frustration and stress.
Common causes of back pain include:
Some of these problems, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, come about gradually. Muscle strains and herniated discs may start suddenly. Either way, you’ll begin to experience pain when the shape or alignment of your spine presses on nerves that branch out from your spinal cord.
Your pain may feel like a spasm, an ache or a sharp, shooting pain. You may also feel a tingling sensation in your arms or legs, numbness or chronic pain that radiates down your leg. If this sounds familiar you may need regular spine care.
Types of Back Pain
Back pain can be chronic or acute. If symptoms are short-lived, your pain is considered acute; if it lasts a long time, it’s chronic. Your chronic pain can also be mild or severe. It’s also categorized based on where and how it occurs.
Back pain is classified by the area of the back that’s affected:
- Upper back pain that occurs in the thoracic area of the spine
- Middle back pain that occurs between the bottom of the ribs and above the lumbar region of the spine
- Lower back pain, including sciatica
Additionally, back pain is defined by how it feels.
Axial pain is limited to a single area. A muscle strain is an example.
Radicular back pain is sharp and intense. It might feel like an electric shock. Sciatica feels like this. Referred back pain moves around. It may feel dull or achy and vary in intensity.
Back Pain Risk Factors
The risk of developing back pain increases with age. But there are other risk factors that could lead to back and spine pain. Being obese or overweight, smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle may cause back pain. Some research suggests a link between back pain and depression or anxiety, You may also experience back pain as a result of long-term improper lifting techniques. A dedicated spine specialist if often your best course of action.
When to See a Bluffton Back Doctor
Back pain may improve with treatment at home, rest and over-the-counter pain medications. However, you should see a doctor or spine specialist if:
How Do Bluffton Back Specialists Diagnose Back Pain?
Diagnosing back pain starts with a visit to a back and spine doctor or spine specialist at Southern Coast Spine & Pain Specialists. We’ll take your medical history, discuss your current health concerns and assess your range of motion, balance and neurological function and strength during a physical exam.
Depending on the results of the physical exam, we may also recommend a diagnostic imaging test to evaluate the damage. These might include:
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
Using this information, your Bluffton back doctor will rule out conditions and focus on treating the source of your pain.
What Treatments are Available at a Bluffton Spine Center?
At Southern Coast Spine & Pain Specialists, we treat back pain and spine care holistically. Instead of masking the symptoms, we seek out the cause of your pain and treat it. We’ll always start with conservative treatments like anti-inflammatory medications, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medical massage, hot and cold therapy, stretches and rest. Whenever possible, we avoid using medication and seek out natural, holistic approaches to pain relief.
However, your back pain may call for a different course of treatment. If conservative treatments aren’t effective, we’ll move to options including medication management, injection therapy or nerve blocks. We can help you put together a comprehensive treatment plan for back pain and many other treatment options at our clinic include:
These nonsurgical treatment options will alleviate your back pain, allowing you to live pain-free without the significant downtime or risks that come with surgery.
Get Relief Today at Back Pain Specialists of Bluffton
You don’t have to live with back pain. Schedule a consultation and assessment with our spine pain doctor. During the visit we’ll recommend a tailored treatment plan to help you find relief. We’ll also be happy to answer your questions and address your concerns.