Back Pain

Alexis Tracy, DO, of Somerset Spine & Nerve in Medford, Oregon, specializes in treating chronic back pain resulting from conditions like sciatica and spinal stenosis. At Somerset Spine & Nerve, Dr. Tracy offers the latest advancements in minimally invasive spine surgery to remove damaged portions of your spine, repair joints, and alleviate pressure on surrounding nerves. If you have persistent back pain that isn’t getting better, schedule a consultation with Somerset Spine & Nerve by phone or request one online today. 

What causes back pain?

There are several reasons why you may experience back pain. Acute back pain often results in muscle fatigue, sprains, and strains from overuse. 

When you have persistent back pain, it may be the result of damage from trauma to the structures of your back or due to degenerative changes in your spine.

Some of the most common causes of chronic back pain include:

• Tumors
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Fractures
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease

You may also develop chronic back pain from spinal deformities or as a result of severe trauma to the spine from a fall, auto accident, or sports injury.

If you experience chronic back pain that isn’t treatable with rest or over-the-counter medications, you shouldn’t delay a diagnostic evaluation with Somerset Spine & Nerve.

How is back pain diagnosed?

Diagnosing chronic back begins with a review of your medical history, your lifestyle, and your job. Your Somerset Spine & Nerve provider also discusses the location and severity of your pain to get a better understanding of its root cause, then performs a physical exam of your spine to determine if there’s a noticeable curvature or other deformities.

In many cases, imaging tests like X-rays and an MRI can provide the Somerset Spine & Nerve team with a view of your spinal structures to identify herniated discs, areas of nerve compression, spinal stenosis, or joint damage from arthritis and osteoporosis.

Will I need surgery for chronic back pain?

Surgery is typically a last resort option for treating chronic back pain. Before considering surgery, you should try conservative methods like pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, PRP injections, and physical therapy to relieve pain and improve your range of motion.

Dr. Tracy specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques that require only small incisions to correct spinal abnormalities and injuries. 

If you have a herniated disc, surgery focuses on removing part or all of the damaged disc to relieve compression on nearby nerves that cause pain. By removing a damaged disc, Dr. Tracy can also reduce the side effects of a compressed nerve, such as tingling and numbness that radiates throughout your back, neck, arms, and legs.

If you have spinal stenosis, Dr. Tracy can use specialized surgical techniques to remove a portion of bone and widen the space within your spine. This provides more room for your nerves to prevent pain triggered by compression.

If you’re limited in what you can do because of chronic back pain, schedule a consultation with Somerset Spine & Nerve by calling the office or requesting an evaluation online today.