The Specialists at Heekin Orthopedics Explain Chronic Low Back Pain

    JACKSONVILLE, FL, May 21, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Lower back pain is extremely common, affecting approximately 60 to 90 percet of all adults. Aside from the pain itself, patients with chronic back pain often suffer from emotional or psychological problems such as depression or anxiety. According to the experts at Jacksonville pain clinic Heekin Orthopedics, chronic lower back pain can be caused by a number of different factors, some which are more easily treated than others.

Many patients with chronic lower back pain suffer from lumbar arthritis, which may cause or at least contribute to the pain. Lumbar arthritis is associated with not only pain but also swelling and stiffness in the pelvic area. Unfortunately, arthritis is currently incurable, so treatment is instead aimed at relieving the associated symptoms.

In many other cases, the cause of chronic lower back pain is unknown, and may remain a mystery even after undergoing numerous different diagnostic tests and seeing several different specialists. However, even cases without a known cause must be taken seriously, and pain relief can still be achieved.

Other causes of chronic lower back pain include trauma to the spine, fibromyalgia, nerve damage and complications from back surgery.

What Are the Treatment Options for Chronic Lower Back Pain?

The treatment for chronic lower back pain depends first and foremost of the cause of the pain. If the pain is known to be caused by something like fibromyalgia or lumbar arthritis, the treatment will be mainly aimed at relieving the pain as well as any associated physical or psychological problems.

If the cause of the pain is unknown, pain relief will be the No. 1 focus. In many cases, over-the-counter pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other analgesics, in combination with physical therapy will be prescribed.

If the cause of the pain is due to spinal injury or trauma, surgery and/or physical therapy may help cure the pain for good.

"The first step to treating pain is to diagnose the cause," explains Kevin P. Murphy, MD. "Just because you are used to living with back pain does not mean that you should have to. Make an appointment with us today, and we can help you find the best treatment option for your individual needs."

To learn more about Heekin Orthopedics, visit https://heekinortho.com.

About Heekin Orthopedics:

Established in 2001 by Dr. R. David Heekin in historic Riverside, Heekin Orthopedic Specialists has grown to include 10 knowledgeable orthopedic surgeons, a pain management specialist and a physiatrist. They have five state-of the-art Jacksonville locations, three of which have on-site Physical Therapy departments.

To learn more, please visit https://heekinortho.com.

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