When medical experts work together in spine care, patients get the best results

[SPONSORED CONTENT]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) — As the weather warms and spring activities beckon, many of us may overdo it and find ourselves experiencing back pain. Acute low back pain starts suddenly and usually lasts a few days or weeks. Most of the time, the pain is muscular. This type of injury can be caused by lifting heavy objects, sleeping in the wrong position, or having poor posture. It typically can be managed at home and will improve with time.

It’s important to recognize when back pain might signal something serious. If you have sudden trauma, signs of fracture, a history of osteoporosis, unexplained weight loss, fever, numbness or tingling in the groin area, difficulty buttoning a shirt or gripping things, or loss of bladder or bowel control, call your doctor. These symptoms suggest that something may be pressing on the spinal cord or the nerves that branch off from it, and that warrants a professional evaluation sooner rather than later.

Don’t think that making an appointment automatically means you are having surgery. In fact, the focus of the new Intermountain Health Wellington Spine Clinic is to bring different experts together to evaluate the spine from every angle. In conjunction with the patient, we create a treatment plan together. We often can achieve the patient’s goals without surgery.

More conservative treatments may include physical therapy; targeted injections to reduce inflammation; medication management; and activity modifications to protect the area while it heals.

Physical therapy in particular can teach patients about the fundamentals of proper body mechanics, strengthening specific muscles and adopting techniques to address the root of the problem rather than working around it.

If surgery is needed, it is a team decision made with the patient. Our team is privileged to work with the highly skilled experts at Wellington Neurosurgery Clinic located in our same building.

The best thing you can do for your back is to stay healthy. Keep moving. Keep stretching. Try to incorporate strength training. If you do find yourself in need of care, patients can be confident there’s a team of experts who have their back.