Having a body can be pretty weird. Most of the time, unless you have chronic pain, everything will be working fine without you even having to think about it. But sometimes something will happen- you’ll twist the wrong way, or you’ll lift something heavy without using your legs- and all of a sudden your back is killing you.
If the pain is bad enough, or lasts long enough, it might be time to see a doctor. But how do you know when it’s time? How do you know if you need to see a back and spine doctor specifically? In this article, we’re going over when to see a spine doctor for back pain relief.
What Kind of Doctor Works on the Back and Spine?
Do you know what kind of doctor helps with back and spine issues? You might immediately think you’d just go to your primary care provider, but there are actually a few different types of doctors who specialize in back and spine problems.
Orthopedic surgeons are one type of doctor that helps with back and spine issues. They are doctors who focus on the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of your bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
Other places that orthopedic surgeons treat include:
- The shoulder
- The elbow
- The hip
- The knee
- The foot and ankle
- The hand and wrist
Another type of doctor that helps with back and spine issues is a neurologist. Neurologists focus on the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They are often able to help with conditions like herniated discs or pinched nerves.
There are also pain management doctors who can help with back and spine issues. These doctors focus on treating pain without surgery. They often use a combination of medication, physical therapy, and injections to help relieve pain.
Today’s article is going to be focusing on when you should see an ortho doctor, but it is good to know that there are other people you might see for your back and spine issues as well.
How to Know When to See a Doctor for Your Back
How does anyone know when it’s time to see a doctor for their back? It can feel like such a fine line sometimes- on the one hand, you don’t want to waste anyone’s time or money if it’s just a little pain that will go away. On the other hand, you don’t want to ignore something that could be serious.
One way to help decide if you need to see a doctor is by thinking about how long you’ve been in pain. If it’s only been a day or two, it’s likely that your body just needs some time to rest and heal itself. However, if the pain has been going on for weeks or even longer, it might be time to see someone.
Another thing to think about is what kind of pain you’re in. Are you experiencing any of the following?
- Sharp or shooting pains
- Pain that gets worse when you move around
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Weakness in your muscles
- Difficulty standing or walking
If you are, it’s worth considering seeing your doctor to see if you need to see a specialist. If you put this off for too long, you might start to experience even more serious problems like paralysis.
It’s also worth considering how your pain is impacting your life. Are you having trouble doing your normal activities? Is the pain keeping you up at night? If your quality of life is suffering, it’s probably time to see a doctor.
Really, if you think it’s worth a doctor’s visit, it is. That being said, if you’re the type to avoid the doctor like the plague you might want to consider a few things first. If the pain is manageable and not stopping you from doing your everyday activities, it might be worth waiting a little longer to see if it goes away on its own.
Don’t wait too long though. As we established, you could run into some pretty big issues. Here are just a few:
- Paralysis:
- We mentioned this one already, but it’s worth going over again. If you wait too long to see a doctor, you could end up permanently paralyzed.
- Infection:
- If you have a herniated disc or another back issue that’s causing problems with your spinal cord, you could be at risk for infection.
- Nerve damage:
- This can happen if you wait too long to get treatment for pinched nerves or other issues.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control:
- This is a serious issue that can happen if you wait too long to get treatment for certain back problems.
- Increased pain:
- If you wait too long, the problem could get worse and the pain could become unbearable.
All of the issues listed above are pretty serious so please don’t delay too long. If you believe you have a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
How Does One Become an Orthopedic Doctor?
If you are the type to avoid the doctor like the plague, you might be curious as to what makes someone qualified to be an orthopedic doctor. After all, they will be the ones responsible for helping you with your back and spine issues.
Orthopedic doctors go through a long and detailed process to become qualified. Here are the steps they take:
- Finish their K-12 schooling:
- Everyone has to start somewhere. In order to become an orthopedic doctor, you first have to complete high school (or the equivalent).
- Get a bachelor’s degree:
- After high school, you’ll need to get a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. During your undergraduate studies, you’ll want to focus on pre-med courses like biology and chemistry.
- Get a medical degree:
- The next step is to get a medical degree from an accredited medical school. This will usually take four years to complete.
- Do a residency:
- Once you have your medical degree, you’ll need to do a residency in orthopedic surgery. This usually takes five years to complete.
- Pass the boards:
- In order to be able to practice medicine, you’ll need to pass your state’s board examination.
- Get licensed:
- In addition to passing the boards, you’ll also need to get licensed in the state where you want to practice medicine.
- Do a fellowship:
- After you’ve completed your residency, you might want to do a fellowship. This is an optional step, but it can help you further specialize in a certain area of orthopedic surgery.
As you can tell, it’s not just anyone that can become an orthopedic doctor. They have to go through a lot of schooling and training to be able to help you with your back and spine issues.
What Happens During an Appointment With an Orthopedic Doctor?
When you go to see an orthopedic doctor, they will likely ask you about your medical history and the symptoms you’re experiencing. They will also do a physical examination. This will help them come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. After taking your medical history and doing a physical examination, the orthopedic surgeon might order some tests.
These tests might include:
- X-rays:
- This is a common test that helps doctors look for problems with bones or joints.
- CT scan:
- This is similar to an X-ray but it provides more detailed images. It can help doctors look for problems with bones, muscles, tendons, or nerves. MRI: This is another test that can provide detailed images. It can help doctors look for problems with the spine, discs, or nerves.
- Bone scan:
- This test can help doctors look for problems with bones, such as fractures or tumors. Nerve study: This test can help doctors look for problems with the nerves, such as pinched nerves or herniated discs.
Each of these tests could result in a number of different treatments. For example, if you have a herniated disc, the doctor might recommend:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Weight loss
- Surgery
- Injections
- Medication
If you have a pinched nerve, the doctor might recommend:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Weight loss
- Surgery
- Injections
Many treatments might look roughly the same from one condition to another. That’s because there are only so many ways to treat back and spine issues. However, each treatment is tailored specifically to the patient and their individual needs.
Understanding the Medical System
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your body, and sometimes it’s comforting to know that there are people out there who can help. The more you know about the systems in place to help you, the more comfortable you’ll be when something does go wrong.
We hope that this article has helped you understand when to see a back and spine doctor for your back pain relief. Remember, if you think it’s worth a doctor’s visit, it is. And if you’re ever in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of caution and see a doctor just to be safe.