What Pain Institutes Treat Back and Spine Pain

Pain is the single most common medical complaint in the United States, and back and spine pain make up a significant amount of cases of pain. Although back and spine pain can be severe or even debilitating, there are a number of effective treatments. In addition, the treatment of spine pain has improved significantly in recent years. To get the best possible results, it's essential to see a skilled, experienced physician who specializes in the treatment of pain. Below, we'll explore some basics about the treatment of back and spine pain, as well as where you can find the best pain institute in New York City.

Causes of Back and Spine Pain

It's common to experience temporary back pain due to issues like sleeping wrong or pulling a muscle. This type of pain is typically short-lived and mild. If your pain is persistent, severe, or accompanied by symptoms like muscle weakness or numbness, there may be an underlying cause. Some potential causes include:

• Piriformis syndrome - The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back through the leg. Some people have a tighter piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks. This can compress the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica pain and other symptoms.
• Herniated disc - Occurs when a disc ruptures, allowing the inner material to bulge out of its normal boundaries, compressing the nerves.
• Bulging disc - Occurs when a disc is intact but misshapen, thus extending past its normal boundaries and compressing the nerves.
• Bone spurs - Abnormal growths of bone on the vertebrae. Depending on the location, bone spurs can compress the nerves or spinal cord.
• Spondylolisthesis - Occurs when one vertebrae slips past another, spondylolisthesis occurs. This can compress the nerves and spinal cord.
• Kyphosis - A spinal misalignment that produces the "hunchback" appearance. Kyphosis can cause pain and limited movement.
• Scoliosis - A spinal misalignment in which the spine has an "S" shape. In most cases, scoliosis is detected during early adolescence, but it can develop later in life as well.

Certain risk factors are associated with the development of spine issues. With age, the spine - along with other parts of the body - becomes more prone to developing issues. People with physically strenuous jobs are more likely to injure the spine, as are people who are sedentary. Smoking also makes the body more prone to injury. In contrast, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and using safe lifting techniques has a protective effect against spine conditions.

Importance of Choosing a Pain Institute

The treatment of pain in general and spine conditions in particular has come a long way in recent years. A great deal of cutting-edge research has been conducted on how the body experiences pain, and how that pain can be addressed in a more comprehensive manner. A doctor with extensive experience in pain management, and especially the management of pain using cutting-edge procedures, will give the best possible treatment. Look for a doctor who is board-certified in pain management.

Potential Treatments

The majority of spine conditions can be treated with non-invasive procedures. Most patients respond well to anti-inflammatory medications, which help relieve inflammation and pain. In addition, physical therapy and regular exercise at home can improve alignment while continuing to relieve inflammation. Lifestyle changes such as weight loss and smoking cessation can further relieve symptoms and promote healing.

On the other hand, surgery is sometimes necessary in cases where symptoms are severe and in cases where the patient hasn't responded to non-surgical treatments in the past. Although traditional open spine surgery is still required for certain severe or extensive conditions, such as correcting kyphosis, there are a number of minimally invasive procedures that can now be used for the majority of common spine conditions. Treatments such as laser spine surgery have the ability to effectively treat spine conditions without the risks and recovery time associated with traditional spine surgery.

Finding a Pain Institute

When you get treatment for spine pain, you need a doctor you can trust. The right doctor will be able to accurately identify the cause of your pain, and work with you to develop an effective course of treatment that meets your needs and preferences. In addition, when you have a skilled doctor you can rest assured that they have the technical expertise to perform any treatment procedures with a minimal risk of failure and side effects.

You can draw on a number of resources to find a good pain institute. If you have friends or family who suffered from spine pain in the past, they may be able to recommend a doctor who provided good care. In addition, your primary care physician can recommend a colleague who his patients have had good experiences with.

You can also search online for pain institutes in your area. Many physicians run websites to provide information to patients,  including this experience, their approach to care, and the treatments they offer. You can also read reviews from patients on third-party websites, which has the advantage of providing a more comprehensive view of a physician. When reading reviews, be sure to focus on the overall trends rather than honing in on what a single reviewer states.

Top NYC Pain Institute

The top pain institute in New York City is the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center, headed by Dr. Sukdeb Datta. Dr. Sukdeb Datta is a board certified pain management physician and anesthesiologist. Dr. Datta has participated in numerous pain management research studies over the years, helping to develop more effective techniques for dealing with chronic pain. Dr. Datta offers a wide variety of minimally invasive treatments for spine conditions, including laser spine surgery.

The first step to getting relief from your spine pain is to meet with a trusted physician for diagnosis. To diagnose your condition, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and order medical imaging tests such as x-ray or MRI. Based on this information, your doctor will recommend a course of treatment.

Dr. Datta would be happy to meet with you about treatment for your back or spine pain. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or give us a call at (212) 430-0312.