Sciatica Doc In New Jersey Discusses the Most Common Causes of Back Pain.

October 31, 2021

HARVARD TRAINED back PAIN DOCTORS in New jersey

Even though back pain is a common medical problem, not everyone suffers from it in the same way. Back pain can range from subtle, pulsing pains caused by osteoarthritis to sharp, sudden discomfort caused by a herniated disc. It can also be intermittent, persistent, worsen with activity or while resting or even be accompanied by other neurological symptoms, including nerve pain and numbness.

Though back pain can be debilitating at times, most individuals who suffer from it report that symptoms improve or vanish completely with minimal pain management within a few weeks. If your pain persists and your symptoms advance, it’s time to see a doctor to find an accurate treatment option.

There is a multitude of conditions that can cause back pain, some being more concerning than others. Because of this, there are also numerous treatment methods, including minimally invasive procedures, medication, physical therapy, and surgical treatments for more severe instances. However, the method of treatment will have to depend on the condition that is causing the pain.

Want to find out the underlying condition that’s causing your back pain? Dr George Hanna, a board-certified sciatica doc in New Jersey is here to help you find out by discussing some of the most prevalent causes of back pain.

1. Back sprains or strains

Muscle strains and sprains are among the most common causes of back discomfort, particularly in the lower back. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon – the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone – tears; a sprain occurs when a ligament – the tissue that links bones together – tears.

Schedule an appointment with Dr George Hanna, a renowned sciatica doc in New Jersey. Our sciatica specialists offer non-surgical customized treatment plans for sciatica pain.

Strains and sprains generate pain that varies in severity and is difficult to determine where it originates from. This sort of discomfort generally worsens while you move and improves when you relax. Back muscular strains and sprains are frequently associated with muscle weakness and a limited range of motion, in addition to discomfort.

2. Sciatic nerve pain

Sciatic nerve pain leads to a number of symptoms and is caused by the compression or pinching of the sciatic nerve. Most commonly, it is caused by a herniated disc or a bone spur. Sciatica can also be caused by a pelvic or thigh injury, diabetes, prolonged sitting, and piriformis syndrome, which occurs when the sciatic nerve is squeezed by spasms in the buttock muscles.

Because the sciatic nerve is the body’s longest nerve, running from the lower back through both legs, when it is inflamed, it can lead to pain that radiates along the back, hip, and leg. Besides pain, other symptoms of sciatica include tingling, numbness, or muscular weakness.

Sciatica treatment includes physical therapy, prescription medication, and minimally invasive procedures.

3. Bulging or herniated discs

The spinal cord is comprised of 33 individual bones called vertebrae. Between each of these vertebrae is a spinal disc, which acts as a shock-absorbing cushion to prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. Ageing, damage to the spine, weight gain, smoking, and repetitive actions that exert pressure on the spine are all factors that might cause the discs to degrade over time and lead to disc bulging or slipping.

The bulging disc will eventually tear if it is not treated properly. The nucleus of the disc is released when a disc rips, placing pressure on nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord. A herniated or ruptured disc is the medical term for this condition.

When a disc ruptures, it can result in severe back pain that spreads to the buttocks and legs. A ruptured disc in the neck, for example, might cause pain to radiate to one of the arms. In addition to pain, a herniated disc can induce neurological symptoms, including muscular weakness and tingling.

4. Spinal osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can affect every joint in the body, including the vertebral or facet joints in the spine. The cartilage that lines the joints of the spine wears off over time, resulting in spinal osteoarthritis. When this happens, you may experience numbness, aching, or throbbing discomfort that gets worse with movement. As the cartilage wears away and the joints scrape against each other, this can also be accompanied by a popping feeling. Joint stiffness and a restricted range of motion are also common symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis.

When osteoarthritis develops in the spine, the body responds by producing new bone growths to help reinforce the joint. Like a damaged disc, these bone spurs will eventually exert pressure on the nearby spinal nerve roots, resulting in numbness and tingling.

5. Spinal stenosis

In the senior population, spinal stenosis is a common cause of back discomfort. The spinal canal gradually becomes narrowed or shortened as a person ages due to osteoarthritis and the thickening of tissues in the spine. If the spinal canal gets too narrow, nerve roots can become compressed, resulting in weakness, numbness, and tingling sensations.

Scoliosis and Paget’s disease – and illness in which bones form and break down in an unnatural fashion – are two disorders that can cause spinal stenosis in addition to age and arthritis. Spinal stenosis can arise from a significant injury that causes trauma, such as a car accident, as a result of the spinal canal becomes inflamed.

6. Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine bends and twists in an “S” or “C” shape. It usually manifests itself throughout childhood or adolescence. In most cases, the reason for scoliosis is unknown, however, it might be caused by an accident, a birth abnormality, or a hereditary factor. Scoliosis can also be caused by poor posture.

Scoliosis causes neck and back pain, as well as breathing difficulties in severe instances, due to the curving and twisting of the spine.

If you suspect any of these conditions may cause your back pain, it’s time you make an appointment with a sciatica doc in New Jersey. While over-the-counter medication can help reduce the symptoms, the only way to prevent pain from returning and avoid additional issues is to treat the condition that is causing it. Dr George Hanna, Dr Laura Lombardi, and Dr Shane Volney, the experienced pain doctors that you will find at our clinics can help provide proper diagnosis and explain the various treatment plans available. Contact us today and schedule an appointment at one of our clinics in Paramus on Route 17, near the Paramus Park Mall, in Clifton, NJ, on Route 46 E, past the Ford dealership, or in West Orange, near the Essex Country Club.

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Meet Our Team of Back Pain Specialists

All of our Pain Doctors in New Jersey are Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management

Dr. George Hanna - Back Pain Treatment Specialist in NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. George Hanna

Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York.  He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.

Dr. Lombardi - Back pain treatment specialist NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Laura Lombardi

Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, New Jersey.

Dr. Shane Volney - Back Pain Doctor NJ

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Shane Volney

Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.

Dr M Circle Thumb

Back Pain Doctor Clifton & West Orange NJ

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. George Hanna

Dr. Hanna is a Harvard Trained back specialist in New Jersey and New York.  He serves as Medical Director of Pain Management.
Dr. Hanna

Dr. Laura Lombardi

Dr. Lombardi is a Harvard Trained back pain treatment doctor, currently seeing patients in Clifton and West Orange, and Paramus New Jersey.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. Shane Volney

Dr. Volney is a Harvard Trained back treatment doctor seeing patients in the NJ areas of Clifton & West Orange, and in NYC.

Dr. Hanna

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen is Harvard Trained and Board Certified in Pain Management. His pain center accepts major medical insurances and Medicare.