What Kind of Doctor Treats Back Pain?

Finding the right doctor to relieve back pain can be frustrating, since diagnosing back pain can be complex. Just as there are multiple causes of back pain, there are multiple approaches to treating it. Determining the right doctor to diagnose and treat back pain is dependent on the seriousness of the pain and on personal treatment preferences.

Proper Diagnosis

• Whether in the upper, lower, or middle back and whether chronic or acute, back pain can be caused by a host of physical maladies such as osteoporosis and herniated discs but may also be caused by underlying conditions such as infection, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer. Because of the variety of reasons for the pain, one kind of professional may be better able than another to help with your condition. Regardless of whether you choose an alternative practitioner or one who deals with pharmaceuticals, choose a professional who's well seasoned and has reliable experience to know the source of your back pain. A patient might be sent to a coordinated team of professionals formed by a primary care physician to get a full picture of diagnosis and treatment.

Orthopedic Surgeons

• The area surrounding the spinal cord is a specialty of orthopedic surgeons. Since much back pain comes from compressed or shifted vertebrae, surgically straightening the spine can be enough to stop the cause of the pain. A conventional doctor who has gone on to specialize in orthopedics, orthopedic surgeons often use pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants and opioids as well as surgery to control pain and discomfort. Orthopedic surgeons might use discectomies (where herniated discs are removed) and foraminotomies (where tissue or bone pressing on a nerve is removed).

Neurologists

• Neurologists do not perform surgery but can diagnose the pain you're experiencing from a much different angle than orthopedics would. Over 50 nerves connected to the spinal cord have the potential to be irritated or compressed. Since pain wouldn't be felt without the brain registering the pain, neurologists are at the front lines of symptom reduction. By analyzing the patterns of pain in the back and testing for reflexes, neurologists begin to understand which nerves are affected and which specific area needs to be addressed. Neurologists can then proceed to prescribe appropriate pain medication.

Alternative Practitioners

• Osteopaths and chiropractors work by addressing the whole lifestyle to remedy pain. By feeling the back with their hands, osteopaths attempt to find the part of the spine that is out of commission. Using osteopathic manipulation techniques, practitioners move and hold the back tissue until the tense muscle relaxes, which acts to relieve pressure on the spine. High velocity, low amplitude thrusts, in which the practitioner thrusts directly at the vertebrae determined to be causing tightness, are often used. Since bones could break during the procedure, those with previously broken bones, bone cancer or osteoporosis should recognize their heightened risk. Chiropractors focus on manual manipulation with a goal of increasing range of motion and stretching muscles and joints. Electrical and heat waves may be used to regulate circulation and decrease pain. Underlying conditions causing back pain such as tumors, infections and neurological problems cannot be treated by chiropractors, while sciatica and other nerve pain can often be lessened with chiropractic care. When back pain sprouts from nerves that are surrounded too tightly by body tissue, misaligned vertebrae or slipped disks, a chiropractor's manipulation and tissue stretching can resolve the issue.

Coordinating Care

• Knowing the root cause of your pain is an initial step to finding the solution, but the cause might be complex enough to warrant a team of professionals. If an individual with back pain has excessive weight placing strain on the spine, a pinched nerve and compressed vertebrae, she might see a dietitian to find weight-loss support, an orthopedic surgeon to reposition the vertebrae and an osteopath to release any remaining tightness. A broad range of tests such as X-rays, bone scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and discographies can be done to test for breakage, compression, hernias and other abnormal activity. With all the options open to those suffering from back pain, different types of doctors and diagnostic exams should be pursued until the source of pain is found and remedied.