Pain Relief Starts With Proper Diagnosis

In order for a health professional to know what your pain is all about and come up with a treatment plan for back pain or neck pain relief, they will have to perform a series of examinations. Pain can be caused by so many things that may be happening in your body. A detailed patient history will help the doctor understand your perspective.

History
First off, you will fill out a complete physical history of your condition. You might also be asked to provide details on your lifestyle, family history and other physical factors related to the pain. The more information you are able to provide with regards to your pain, the better are your chances of the health professional accurately diagnosing your related pain. Once the health professional has gone through your physical history, you will be asked further questions relating to the information that you have just given.

Physical Examination
After most of the questioning, the doctor will then proceed to give you a physical examination. This will allow for a better determination of the source of the problem, examining those areas where you may be experiencing pain such as your lower back or neck area. Both these areas tend to absorb the most stress and trauma when lifting. The doctor will most likely look into the following.

1. Spine and neck motion
2. Muscle weakness
3. Pain and tenderness at nerve endings
4. Sensory changes
5. Reflex changes
6. Motor skills

The doctor might also check for other signals that are indicative of a more serious condition. This is especially applicable for neck and pack pain as this area has a higher concentration of nerves, muscles and ligaments that get more use in a physically active person. These “red flags” include fever, abnormal pulse, rapid weight loss, and balance challenges.

Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests
Once the physician somehow gets a good enough grasp of your pain problem, you will then be asked to undergo some diagnostic tests to validate or further look into the cause of your pain.

X-Ray
This is a process where pictures are taken of your bone to spot any significant changes. It can tell the presence of a fracture, infection, or tumor.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scan
The MRI is able to go through layer by layer of your spin and come up with computer-generated images for health professionals to examine. It can point out water loss in a disc, facet joint enlargement, spinal canal narrowing or a herniated disc.
CAT (Computer Assisted Tomography) Scan
This procedure is a cross between an x-ray and an MRI. It allows each section of the spine to be separately examined to point out bone wear and tear, bone spur or joint enlargement.

If you are seeking sciatica nerve pain help in Pinellas County, a straight leg rising test and a MR neurography. If neck pain relief in Florida is what you seek, often a myelogram and a EMG (Electrodiagnostic) study may be appropriate to support the history and physical. An inner ear problem Dr of Palm Harbour uses palpitations in the neck to determine nerve damage. The primary treatment for a bulging disc in Tampa is to rest the back, reduce the inflammation with alternating hot and cold compresses and treat the pain with NSAID’s before the doctor can try manipulations. Pain can radiate through inflamed muscles and excited nerves and to gain back pain relief in St. Pete, it is always wise to rest and reduce the swelling before the doctor can clearly identify the actual cause.