Macon Spine and Back Injury
Spine and Back Information
Your spine is divided into three regions which can cause problems over the course of your life:
- the neck, or cervical spine
- the mid-back, or thoracic spine
- the low back, or lumbar spine
If you have lower spinal problems you are not alone. Lower back issues are the most common type of spinal pain. It is estimated that 3 out of every 4 adults will have a bout of lower back pain. Most likely your lower back issues are a result of muscle sprains or strains (due to things like improper lifting techniques, poor posture, sports injury, or chronic overuse) or disc degeneration. In some cases, lower back pain can affect the entire back or even cause pain radiating down your legs. Muscular pain tends to get better over time and often bed rest is recommended. Anti inflammatory drugs may also be helpful in helping you return to normal life function. If your pain continues or worsens or if the pain is intolerable, we suggest you see your doctor immediately for a diagnosis.
If you have middle back pain, it is more likely to be caused by some type of disc problem. While not as common as muscular problems, disc problems are more chronic and can flare up on a somewhat frequent basis. You may be experiencing this back problem due to disc degeneration and/or in some cases a herniated disc. Depending on the severity of your case, we may recommend physical therapy or in extreme cases, surgery. We typically will try a more conservative, non surgical approach to treating your spinal problems before we would recommend surgery.
While disc and muscular problems are common causes of spinal issues, there can be many other causes of your back pain. We suggest that you read the articles and watch the video animations in our Patient Education section of the website. This information will give you a more detailed explanation of many of the conditions and treatment options related to your spinal pain.
If your spinal pain persists or if it returns on a regular basis, we suggest that you come in for an examination. Our doctors will spend the time necessary to come up with the proper diagnosis and treatment options for your individual condition. To schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please call 478-743-3000 or fill out the form on the right.