Integrative Spine & Sports provides back pain treatment in Manhattan, NYC at our Upper West Side Spine and Sports Medicine Practice.
Best Back Pain Treatment In New York City
Back pain can be draining, frustrating, and overwhelming, particularly for those who lead busy and physically active lifestyles. Although back pain can self-resolve in a matter of days or weeks—as is typical with moderate strains and sprains—it can indicate a more serious injury or condition.
Here, we describe the most frequently occurring symptoms associated with back pain and the treatment methods our specialists use to maximize outcomes for patients.
Our approach to treating back pain
We offer nonsurgical options for the treatment of injuries and medical conditions affecting the back; our integrative approach may include:
Back Pain Specialists
Our board-certified team of back pain specialists consists of a physiatrist, chiropractors, and physical therapists who collaborate in the creation and application of customized, comprehensive treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each patient. Our primary objective is to efficiently and effectively resolve debilitating symptoms associated with acute injury-related pain and chronic conditions affecting the muscles, discs, soft tissue, and nerves within the neck and cervical spine.
Back Conditions We Treat
Integrative Spine & Sports offers a nonsurgical approach to the treatment of back and spine pain for the following conditions:
Signs & Symptoms of Back Pain
Given sufficient time and rest, most cases of back pain resolve themselves. Common back pain symptoms include:
- Decreased head mobility
- Headaches
- Tightness and / or spasms in the neck muscles
However, a doctor should be consulted should symptoms: be accompanied by headaches, numbness, weakness, or tingling; intensify; persist for several days without relief; and / or spread to other parts of the body.
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain has many causes. Some often happen because of bad habits but are easily fixed with a few changes. Some, however, are more serious and require medical attention.
Bad posture habits, such as slouching while sitting or simply leaning on one leg, can create bad posture and lead to back and / or neck pain. Bad posture can also result from a lack of exercise, which negatively impacts ab and lower back (core) strength. Bad posture makes it difficult for the spine to stay upright.
To correct this, we recommend stretches for improving posture and core-strengthening exercises at least 5 – 10 minutes a day; even simple ab work, yoga, or Pilates will help strengthen the core to reduce bad posture. When done with consistency, these quick and low-effort exercises will decrease symptoms.
Your back and abdominal muscles make up your core. This part of your body is responsible for keeping you upright. Because of this, they play a massive role in determining how good your posture is.
A weak core (usually from a lack of physical activity) will struggle to support the spine whether sitting or standing. This puts unnecessary pressure on the spine, which can lead to a sprain/strain.
To strengthen the core, we recommend doing core-strengthening exercises for at least 5 minutes a day — even simple ab exercises, yoga, or Pilates will help strengthen the core enough to reduce bad posture.
There are also specific stretches for improving posture. They should only take 5 minutes and minimal effort. But take note that, for their effects to be noticeable, you must be consistent with doing these stretches every day.
People who are overweight or obese are at much greater risk of back pain than people with healthy weights.
The reason for this is because the excess body weight often places a lot of pressure on the back and hips, which often leads to back pain.
Often times, an overweight person’s center of gravity shifts because of the excess weight. This forces the spine to lean towards an unnatural direction and compress unnaturally.
This shift in the person’s center of gravity, if left unaddressed, can have long-term detrimental effects.
Sometimes, back pain can persist or worsen. This usually happens because of a condition or injury. In such cases, it’s unwise to leave the back pain to heal on its own.
Unlike with back sprains/strains, delaying medical help can aggravate the pain and have more serious, long-lasting effects.
So if you’ve experienced any of the following, consult your doctor immediately:
- Herniated disc – a spine injury that often occurs after a single excessive strain on the spine
- Degenerative disc disease – happens when one or more of the discs in the spinal column breaks down, often due to age or when bearing too much weight
- Osteoarthritis – can happen due to eroding cartilage and inflammation
- Spinal stenosis – can happen when the spinal canal narrows due to degeneration
Back Pain FAQs
Some of the common symptoms of COVID-19 are “aches and pains”. Some patients do experience back pain, especially in the lower back. In some cases, the pain is subtle but constant. In others, it is an intense, pulsating pain, which can radiate down to the legs. If the back pain persists, consult your doctor.
Generally, the best position to sleep is on your back. Sleeping on one’s back ensures that the spine is in a neutral position, which can help with back pain. You can also put a pillow under your knees, legs, and/or lower back to support the natural curve of the spine. This can minimize lumbar pressure and relieve back pain.
If doing gentle back stretches doesn’t do the trick, then try strengthening your core so your spine isn’t struggling to stay upright. Heat therapy and cold therapy can also work well for pain relief. If your back pain is a result of poor posture or a bad workstation setup, make the necessary changes to avoid back pain in the future.
Your back pain is likely serious if it occurs with any of the following symptoms: numbness in lower body, loss of bladder/bowel control, fever, unexplained weight loss, swelling. In such cases, please consult a physiatrist immediately.
Short-term (or acute) back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. This is often the case with back pain, and patients usually recover without medical treatment. Sometimes, it lasts for 12 weeks or longer. This is called chronic back pain, and it can take a while to go away. Medical treatment often helps relieve chronic backpain, so we recommend consulting a physiatrist.
Acupuncture provides short-term relief for chronic back pain. Back pain is actually the number 1 reported reason people seek acupuncture. By stimulating the various acupuncture points associated with back pain, parts of the nervous system are also stimulated, which can help provide pain relief.
