Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost - Wirbelsäule - Erkrankungen - Banner

Back pain, low back pain, sciatic pain

Therapy for back problems in the OZMO

There are many causes of back pain. Wear and tear on the intervertebral discs seems to play a decisive role. An intervertebral disc consists of the inner soft nucleus (nucleus pulposus) and an outer fibrous ring (annulus fibrosus). The optimal combination of soft core and outer ring takes over the function of damping. However, in the course of life, the kernel dehydrates, i.e. it loses water and “shrinks” (a grape becomes a raisin). In the MRI, this disc appears black as a so-called “black disc”. Causes of this process are genetic factors, change in metabolism and external stresses. This also leads to the fact that some people get complaints very early, others later and still others not at all.

But back pain can also have other causes, which is why an orthopedic evaluation should always be the remedy of choice. Learn more about back pain on our website and contact us promptly at our Orthopedic Center Munich East (OZMO) if you have back pain so that our accomplished team can book you an appointment with our experienced specialists.

Do you need a personal consultation?

The specialists at the Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost will be happy to provide you with a medical consultation. Take advantage of our wealth of experience in the field of orthopedics and feel free to make an appointment with us!

Contact

089 4141 434-64

Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost - Wirbelsäule - Erkrankungen

Table of Contents:

What is back pain?

How is back pain differentiated?
Causes of back pain

Diagnostics for low back and back pain
The right treatment to back pain
Make your appointment for a back pain evaluation at OZMO

What is back pain?

Almost everyone has a situation in his or her lifetime where he or she is plagued by back pain. This refers to pain along and at the spine, which can be based on a wide variety of causes. Back pain can be acute and chronic, locally differentiated or affect the complete musculoskeletal system. Some patients have mild and limited pain, while others have severe back pain with serious mobility limitations. Variations range from specific pain due to injury and disease to non-specific back pain, where the cause only becomes clear through comprehensive diagnosis.

During examinations, various aspects are differentiated accordingly in order to determine as precise a cause as possible for the present symptoms – and then also to find the individually appropriate treatments for the present back pain.

How is back pain differentiated?

Back pain is differentiated according to different aspects. Typical divisions include:

Back pain according to the cause (specific, non-specific pain)
Back complaints according to time course (duration: acute, subacute and chronic)
Localization of the pain (upper, middle or lower back)
Severity of back pain
In case of long duration: stage of chronification

Especially the localization of the back pain is an essential aspect to find causes for the symptoms. The lower back in the area of the pelvis and lumbar spine is subjected to particularly high stresses in the everyday life of all age groups. Tension, tendon and muscle damage, but also herniated discs can occur here. In the mid-back, skeletal deformities and changes in the rib-vertebral joints may be present along with muscle irritation and damage. The neck area as well as the upper back, consisting of the cervical spine and thoracic spine, on the other hand, tend to have muscle tension and stiffness. Herniated discs can also occur in this area in the event of unfavorable postures and resulting wear and tear (e.g. due to physical work).

Causes of back pain

The causes of back pain are distinguished between specific and non-specific causes. Specific back pain can be caused by an accident, as a result of an injury and due to wear and tear of vertebrae and joints, but also due to misuse, overuse and diseases. The specific cause is determined individually in the diagnosis by the specialist in order to initiate the alleviating and corrective treatments.

Non-specific causes of back pain are more problematic. In this case, there is no clear cause, but usually a composite of causes that influence each other. Thus, short- and long-term incorrect and overloads as well as insufficient exercise, but also stress can cause the back pain in addition to other aspects (e.g. overweight, incorrect movement sequences, unfavorable posture, etc.). The aim here is to improve the overall complex in order to improve the back complaints holistically.

Diagnostics for low back and back pain

For diagnostics, the orthopedic specialist uses a comprehensive medical history, which is followed by the clinical examination. Depending on the patient’s answers, the physical examination may be followed by movement tests, which provide the physician with information about possible diseases, injuries and existing blockages in the musculoskeletal system. The symptoms described also allow the experienced orthopedist to draw initial conclusions about possible causes, which are then differentiated with further examinations, such as blood tests and imaging procedures.

Depending on the situation, X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) are used as imaging methods. Blood tests, on the other hand, are performed, for example, if metabolic disorders or wear and tear diseases are suspected as the cause of the back pain. These include, for example, osteoporosis, rheumatism, gout or osteoarthritis.

The right treatment to back pain

In the case of back pain, there is no one correct treatment, but a therapy that is always individually suggested by the specialist, based on the causes and symptoms present. Depending on the results of the diagnostics, conservative therapies in the form of physiotherapy, massages, physiotherapy and a change in personal sports sessions may be considered, while medication is used to relieve extreme tension and pain. If the causes of the back pain are related to defects in the intervertebral discs, surgical measures are sometimes required in addition to conservative treatment.

Non-specific back pain, on the other hand, is usually treated with holistic approaches, using back training and practicing new movement patterns to help correct postural and movement errors. Overweight as a challenge in diseases of the musculoskeletal system should be avoided and reduced if present. If postural defects are already present, long-term treatment can be provided via orthopedic aids, for example orthopedic insoles and shoes or even corsets. The patient’s cooperation is therefore also essential for the success of the treatment, in order to specifically control the back pain of non-specific causes and to avoid a chronification of the back pain.

Make your appointment for a back pain evaluation at OZMO.

For acute back pain that lasts longer than three days, you should always see a doctor. If you have recurring minor complaints and movement blockages, these also belong in the expert examination of experienced specialists in orthopedics. In order for your back pain to soon be a thing of the past, an individual diagnosis is important for determining the causes.

At the Orthopaedic Center Munich East (OZMO) you will find consultation, diagnostics and treatment for back pain professionally, individually and under one roof. Therefore, make an appointment at OZMO in a timely manner to initiate the necessary measures with our experienced orthopedic and trauma surgery specialists. Contact our team and visit us at our well-equipped orthopedic specialty center to get back to being pain-free and mobile in the best possible way soon.

Mo – Th:	08:00 – 18:00
Fr:	08:00 – 12:00