Back pain is an extremely common complaint, as it affects people of all ages and backgrounds. While occasional aches and pains often go away on their own, persistent pain is something you shouldn’t ignore. Learn more about chronic back pain, including common causes, when it’s time to see a back pain doctor and what you can expect when you visit MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago.

What Are the Common Causes of Back Pain?

Many things cause back pain, but most of them fall into one of these categories:

• Mechanical: Mechanical back pain develops due to stress on the muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons in your spine. It’s not usually related to an underlying medical condition, so lifestyle changes may be all you need to relieve discomfort.
• Disc-related: The discs in your spine absorb shock and help you maintain your flexibility. Over time, however, they can break down, causing chronic back pain. For instance, a herniated disc can press on nearby nerves, causing you to experience pain accompanied by tingling and numbness.
• Nerve-related: Your spine uses nerves to communicate with your muscles, bones, and central nervous system. If one of these nerves is compressed or irritated, it can cause back pain that has a burning or shooting quality. One example is sciatica, which occurs when one of the nerves that runs from your lower back into your legs is irritated, inflamed, or pinched.
• Posture-based: Poor posture puts extra stress on your spine and back muscles, making it more likely that you’ll develop chronic back pain.

How Long Should You Wait Before Seeing a Back Pain Doctor?

Acute pain usually develops suddenly, while chronic pain builds over time. For example, if you spend several hours typing a report, you might end the day with a sore back and neck. In many cases, acute pain resolves in a few days, especially if you take over-the-counter medications, use self-care measures, and rest more than usual.

You should see a lower back pain specialist if your pain doesn’t resolve in 1 week, or if you notice any of the following:

• The pain is constant or intense, especially when you’re trying to sleep.
• You have back pain accompanied by weakness, numbness, or tingling in your legs.
• Your back swells or becomes discolored.
• The pain spreads down one or both legs.
• You have pain paired with unintended weight loss.
• Your pain prevents you from moving around as well as you normally do.

In some cases, back pain is a sign of a serious problem. Seek emergency medical attention if you have back pain accompanied by a fever, your pain comes with new bowel or bladder problems, or the pain occurs after a car crash or other physical trauma. Getting immediate care can help you avoid complications.

What to Expect at MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to back treatment that works for every patient. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, we specialize in creating personalized treatment plans, ensuring that we address the underlying causes of your pain. We also strive to provide compassionate, patient-centered care. Everyone at MAPS, from schedulers to doctors, goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable.

During your first appointment, we’ll use a detailed diagnostic process to determine what’s causing your pain and explore potential treatment options. This process includes a thorough conversation about your symptoms, a physical examination, and imaging studies. In some cases, we order labs to determine if you have any disorders that could be contributing to chronic back pain.

What Are Your Non-Surgical Treatment Options?

MAPS Centers for Pain Control specializes in non-surgical treatment options, so we offer injections, nerve blocks, and more. Injection therapies use steroids and other medications to provide rapid relief from chronic back pain. Nerve blocks use local anesthetics to prevent nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. This can help with back pain caused by nerve compression or inflammation. We can even provide responsible medication management or minimally invasive procedures to improve your quality of life.

Why Early Intervention from a Back Pain Doctor Can Prevent Long-Term Damage

Early diagnosis gives you the opportunity to address mild to moderate back pain before it becomes severe. It may even help you avoid surgery down the road, making it critical that you see a back pain doctor with experience in performing minimally invasive procedures.

Contact MAPS Centers for Pain Control today to find out how you can benefit from personalized back pain treatment in Chicago. We offer several treatments in one place, making it easy to get the care you need.