Tag Archives: back pain doctor
It is estimated that 80 percent of the US population is affected by some type of back pain. As a result, at least one-fourth of patients need long-term medical care. The foremost concern of patients is the cost associated with a spine surgery and related procedures. In fact, some debate if such a surgery is cost effective?
Before discussing the cost factor, it is important to understand that there is no universal rate for such complex procedures therefore medical institutions and clinics do not advertise a rate list. Their reluctance to provide cost is based on the risks of lawsuits by patients if the patient’s cost expectations are not met. Actually, cost varies by the type of procedure, geography, age, and the hospital. Still, there are reasonable cost estimates that every patient has the right to know before undergoing surgery. The best person to ask is your back pain doctor who will try to offer a reasonable solution within your budget. For example, it is not uncommon for a spinal fusion surgery to cost between $25,000 and $50,000.
According to experts, couple of years earlier, the average cost of related procedures in California was: Continue reading
Are you the kind of person who is suffering from lower back pain? Many conditions can afflict a person over the years; this is one of the only times where your mobility and your quality of life can be affected to such an extreme that you are desperate for solutions. Most turn to the over-the-counter 
solution in the form of heating pads, pain relievers, or braces. The worst part is, pain as you get older is almost inevitable. As the body ages, normal wear and tear takes its toll on the spine and muscles, only dwarfed by injuries and/or trauma suffered from serious accidents. In other cases, back pain, lower back pain specifically, can be a sign of more serious underlying issues or the result of poor lifestyle.
The good news is there are solutions to coping with your pain. Not ever ache and cramp requires a run to the hospital for spinal surgery. Instead, try to cope through non-surgical means. Make sure you are getting enough rest everyday, but not too much. Stagnate living can actually aggravate the symptoms or possible condition. Apply heat and ice to affected areas. Application of cold packs can help reduce inflammation following traumas. After a few days of cold treatment to the tender areas, patients can begin to utilize heat in the form of heating lamps, warm baths and heating pads for brief periods to relax the muscles. A patient should see to it that they are also seeing a back pain doctor referred to by their primary care physician. Only the proper licensed individual can prescribe heavier pain medications if necessary when other methods of treatment are either ineffective or not enough. Proper exercise within personal means and routine massage therapy are also shown to strengthen and improve back muscles while simultaneously relaxing the strain. In the meantime, make sure to chronicle back pain when it persists, as well as what you were doing and the time of day. These are useful pieces of information for your doctor when trying to diagnose and treat your pain. Continue reading
