10 Clues That You Should Seek Back Pain Treatment in New York
July 15, 2020
When Should You See a Doctor for Acute or Chronic Back Pain?
Back pain is so common that it’s sometimes hard to know when to see a doctor. You might write it off as a poor night of sleep, heavy lifting at work, or a day spent carrying your toddler around. But back pain that stems from injury, disease, or degeneration will worsen if left untreated. So how do you know if it’s time to seek back pain treatment in New York? Use these 10 signs to help you decide.
Signs That You Should See a Pain Doctor Immediately
The following symptoms mean you should seek medical attention immediately. The cause is sometimes less serious, but devastating immobility or fatality could occur if left untreated.
1. Your Back Pain is Accompanied by a Fever.
Sometimes fever and back pain coexist for different reasons. And temporary body aches commonly accompany fever in illnesses like the flu. But if you’re experiencing new back pain with a fever, it’s best to have it checked out. Underlying diseases, infection, and cancer can cause a fever coupled with back pain.
2. You Experience Sudden Paralysis
If you are unable to move your back, neck, or limbs, see a doctor promptly. Back pain paired with partial or total paralysis is considered an emergency to preserve mobility. Often caused by a severely herniated disc, it can be temporary, and require a simple fix when addressed promptly, but can cause permanent paralysis if left untreated.
3. You Have New Loss of Bowel or Bladder Control
Several back issues can cause incontinence, and many are serious. Cauda Equina Syndrome occurs when the nerves in the lower back responsible for sensation in the groin are compressed, often from herniated discs. Other conditions that present the same symptoms are even more serious, including an abscess, a spinal cord injury, a spinal tumor, kidney stones, a burst artery in the abdominal wall, or an epidural hematoma following childbirth.
4. You Sustained an Injury, Fall, or Car Accident
If new back pain follows a car accident, fall, or injury, seek a proper diagnosis and treatment right away. Often the body goes into shock during an injury, so pain isn’t felt until later. Don’t wait to have an exam or diagnostic imaging done if you’ve experienced bodily trauma. Back pain might also refer from other areas like the pelvis, neck, shoulders, or internal organs, so seek prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Clues to Seek Back Pain Treatment in New York Soon
If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, they don’t require emergency medical attention, but they signal that a visit with pain specialists is needed as soon as possible.
5. You Have a Constant Ache in Your Back
It’s normal to have an achy back from time to time, particularly if you’ve exerted yourself more than usual. Everything from hunching over your desk, to too many reps at the gym can make your back hurt. But when the pain isn’t relieved by rest, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen within a couple of days, it’s time to pinpoint the cause. Doctors can look for issues like spinal stenosis, pinched nerves, osteoarthritis, and herniated discs.
6. Your Back Pain Radiates Down Your Leg
Sciatica is a common cause of pain that radiates, often down one buttock or leg. Sometimes it’s relieved with rest, but other times it requires injections, physical therapy, or disc repair. Pain can also radiate down your leg for more serious reasons like spinal tumors, so see a doctor soon if sciatic pain persists.
7. You Have Tingling, Numbness, or Weakness
Tingling can be the result of things like pinched nerves, overuse, or arthritis. But since tingling, numbness, and weakness also present in more troubling conditions like multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, it’s important to visit certified pain doctors, rather than self-diagnosing.
8. Your Back Pain is Stabbing or Shooting
Back pain from a tiring day at work or a long drive will likely be dull and uncomfortable. Sharp, stabbing pain that shoots through your back is more indicative of injury. If your back pain becomes severe, seek immediate medical care. But even if it persists as moderately sharp or shooting, see a doctor as soon as you’re able.
9. Your Back Pain Worsens With Movement
If your back pain feels better when you lie down, but worsens when you stand, walk, or sit, consult pain specialists for proper pain management. Pain with movement could indicate a muscle sprain, a ligament tear, or a pinched nerve, among many other things. It’s important to get a clear diagnosis to receive adequate relief.
10. Your Back Pain is Accompanied by Weight Loss
As with fever, weight loss can accompany back pain for a different reason. If your back pain makes it harder to move, you might make fewer trips to the refrigerator, and if it hurts badly enough, you might have a smaller appetite. Pain medications used to treat back pain can also affect appetite and weight. But if you have unexplained weight loss along with back pain, see a pain doctor to rule out illness or disease.
Visit the Best Back Specialists in New York
If you’re experiencing any type of back pain, whether acute, chronic, or severe, visit the pain doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists in New York near Grand Central Station. Our Harvard-trained team is uniquely qualified to find the source of your pain and treat it with minimally invasive techniques. Our pain specialists are board certified in pain management and use the most conservative treatments that will alleviate your pain.
Our Conservative Treatments Offer Minimally Invasive Relief
Our pain doctors are certified in multiple fields including pain medicine and anesthesiology. As such, they can offer the widest range of back pain treatment in New York. Since our pain specialists won’t prescribe treatment until they’ve pinpointed the source, you’re guaranteed the most conservative treatment method. Unlike some pain doctors, who try things to see what will work, we have tools that both diagnose and treat at the same time. Here are just a few ways we provide back pain treatment with minimally invasive techniques.
Gentle Back Pain Treatment at Pain Treatment Specialists
- Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation
- Sacroiliac Joint Injections
- Lumbar and Cervical Facet Injections
- Lumbar Epidurals
- Trigger Point Injections
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
Seek Medical Attention Today for Back Pain Treatment in NYC
Don’t let your back pain turn into something more serious. Seek medical attention today to find relief. Trust the #1 back pain specialists in New York, Pain Treatment Specialists! Call or book an appointment online to receive the best minimally invasive back pain treatment in New York.
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Scheduling a consultation with one of our pain treatment specialists is one of the best ways to determine the proper solution for pain relief.