Back Pain Treatment in Memphis

If you have a back injury, live with the realities of normal wear and tear or have a congenital or chronic back or spine condition, our back pain doctors in Memphis can help. We provide convenient access to a comprehensive range of orthopedic techniques and procedures to help treat various conditions, such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spine or back fractures and more.

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Helping You Live Life With Ease

At Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, we provide compassionate care and high-quality back pain treatment options that may help you live a more comfortable, active life. We have an orthopedic team at the Joint & Spine Center, composed of doctors, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, radiologists and administrative staff, that will provide the care, support and guidance you need from diagnosis to recovery.

Back pain may be a sign of an underlying condition, so please do not delay care. You can go to Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis for:

Diagnostic tests and screenings
A customized care plan depending on the cause of your back pain
Nonsurgical treatment options
Minimally invasive procedures
Robotic back and spine surgery
Classes and events that help you learn more about and manage back pain

Back and Spine Conditions We Treat

Some of the back and spine conditions we help treat include but are not limited to the following:

Arthritis
Back or spine injury
Bulging disks
Cancers of the spine
Cervical myelopathy
Degenerative disc disease
Herniated or ruptured disc
Osteoporosis
Pinched nerves
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Spine infection
Spine trauma
Spinal stenosis
Vertebral fracture

Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Back Pain

Our back pain doctors in Memphis usually recommend more conservative treatment options first before considering surgery. These nonsurgical options may include the following:

Back braces
Ice or heat therapy
Massage therapy
Muscle relaxants
Ointments
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Physical therapy
Prescription medications
Steroid injections
Complementary therapies (i.e., acupuncture, finger pressure therapy, yoga, etc.)

Surgical Treatment Options for Back Pain

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) states that some conditions may benefit from back pain surgery. These conditions include degenerative disc disease, herniated or ruptured disk, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and vertebral fracture.

However, we understand that the thought of going through surgery can be terrifying for some. The good thing is, our orthopedic surgeons in Memphis provide care and offer treatment options in a way that makes you feel acknowledged, safe and supported.

What Are the Different Types of Back Surgery?

Some of the most common types of back surgery are as follows:

Discectomy and microdiscectomy
Disc replacement
Foraminotomy
Laminectomy
Laser surgery
Nucleoplasty
Radiofrequency lesioning
Spinal decompression
Spinal fusion
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

How About Robotic Spine Surgery?

We also offer robotic spine procedures using Mazor Robotics technology. The robotic systems we use may help reduce radiation, lower complication rates, reduce pain and enable faster recovery for patients. The types of spinal procedures our surgeons perform using Mazor Robotics technology include:

Surgery for complex spinal deformities (i.e., scoliosis)
Osteotomies
Biopsies
Open, minimally invasive surgical and percutaneous posterior thoracolumbar approaches
Pedicle screws – short and long fusions
Transfacet screws and translaminar-facet screws

What Can You Do to Relieve Back Pain?

Back pain may range from acute to severe. Regardless of how painful it is, we recommend that you see a back pain doctor in Memphis to keep your condition from getting worse. While waiting to speak with your doctor, you may find temporary relief by doing any of the following:

Avoid normal physical activity or those that involve twisting or heavy lifting to reduce back swelling.
Avoid exercising as soon as you experience pain.
Apply a hot compress or an ice pack to the painful area. This may also help reduce inflammation or muscle stiffness.
Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medication or apply an ointment to the painful area.
Try mindful meditation to keep stress or anxiety from worsening your pain.
Go for a hot bath with Epsom salt. The salt can help relieve muscle aches.
Sleep in a fetal, curled-up position with a pillow between your legs for additional support.

How Do I Know if My Back Pain Is Serious?

People of all ages may experience back pain, and it’s usually not serious as it resolves on its own over time. However, you’ll know that your back pain needs medical attention if you experience pain together with any of the following signs and symptoms:

Back swelling or deformity
Chest pain
Fever
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Numbness or tingling around your buttocks or genitals
Numbness, weakness or tingling in one or both legs
Throbbing sensation in the abdomen
Pain that comes from the top of your back or between your shoulders instead of the lower back
Pain that gets worse at night
Pain that gets worse when you cough, sneeze or poop
Pain that keeps you up at night
Unexplained weight loss

How Do Doctors Diagnose the Cause of Your Back Pain?

During your check-up, your orthopedic doctor may conduct a physical examination, ask about the level of your back pain and the signs and symptoms you experience. Also, to further determine the cause of your condition, the back pain doctor may request a variety of tests, such as:

Bone scans
Computed tomography (CT) scans
Electromyography (EMG)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
X-rays

What Type of Doctor Do You See for Back Pain?

It is common for patients to go to their primary care providers when they don’t feel well or experience certain signs and symptoms of a specific condition. But when it comes to back pain, we recommend that you schedule an appointment directly with an orthopedic doctor or a back pain specialist in Memphis. These physicians have undergone years of training to properly diagnose, manage, treat and prevent musculoskeletal conditions, including those that cause back and spine pain.