Back Pain Specialist

What causes back pain?

Back pain can be caused by many different things, the most common of which include muscle strains, ligament or tendon damage, spinal disc injury, subluxation of a vertebrae, or a combination of all of these. The result is inflammation and nerve pain which can be mild or often times debilitating enough to restrict movement and interfere with your favorite activities. Low back pain is more common than upper or middle back pain. There are basically two types of back pain:

Acute – usually the result of an active or sudden injury, such as lifting something heavy, a fall, a sports injury, etc.

Chronic – a slower onset that develops over time. The exact cause can be a number of different factors such as wear and tear or disc degeneration.

What’s the difference between a sprain and a strain?

Both a sprain and a strain relate to an overworked muscle, ligament or tendon that is overstretched. A strain relates to the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. A sprain involves the tearing of ligaments or tissues in a joint area for instance when the bones in a joint are forced beyond a comfortable range of motion, the joint may become sprained. Usually, treatment for both sprains and strains will start with rest, ice, compression and elevation before moving on to more aggressive treatment.

What’s the difference between a simple strain or a more serious herniated disc?

Extreme pain does not necessarily mean there has been a herniation of the disc. A person can have excruciating pain, but if it is mainly low back pain, it’s probably not a herniated disc. A strain can occur anywhere within the musculature of the back while a herniated disc in your back will radiate pain down into your leg, or pain will radiate down your arm if you have a blown disc in your neck.