Whether mild or severe, back pain can make enjoying daily life difficult. From interfering with work to stopping patients from enjoying their favorite recreational activities, back pain’s a problem that must be dealt with. The team at San Marcos Family Medicine offers a variety of treatment options for San Marcos, Texas and Central Texas patients who are dealing with back pain.
"The staff was very nice and made sure to meet all of my needs. They were very informative and made sure to make a check up appointment with me to make sure my treatments are effective!"
Back Pain Q & A
What are some common causes of back pain?
Back pain has many causes, and the goal of treatment is first to find the underlying cause of the pain to treat that cause rather than just covering the pain. Some causes may include:
- Sports injuries
- Lifting injuries
- Poor posture
- Disc herniation
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Pinched nerves
If a patient’s suffering from back pain, a visit to San Marcos Family Medicine can help get to the bottom of the problem.
What treatments are available for back pain?
Back pain’s best treated after finding the cause. For patients with an injury, rest, medication for pain, ice, or heat treatment is the first line of treatment, followed by physical therapy to strengthen the area. Patients with herniated discs or pinched nerves may require surgery to correct the problem, followed by physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the back and reduce the risk of future problems.
What medications work best for back pain?
If back pain interferes with a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks or go to work, then the doctors at San Marcos Family Medicine may use medication to help. Medications for back pain include anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relieving medications. Working with a physician to find the right combination of medication is important because some medications have potential side effects, can be habit forming, or don’t work well for back pain specifically.
What can a patient do to limit future injuries or back pain problems?
Back pain is often made worse by lifestyle factors, like poor posture. Patients can help reduce their back pain and the risk of future injury by:
- Using ergonomic seating
- Paying attention to posture while sitting and standing
- Avoiding sitting for lengthy periods of time
- Using proper lifting techniques
- Using proper techniques when participating in sports
- Properly conditioning before athletic events
- Changing sleep position to reduce pressure on the spine
For more information on back pain treatment and how to avoid back pain, schedule an appointment with one of the physicians at San Marcos Family Medicine.