Back Pain

Your spine supports your whole body, from keeping you upright to absorbing the impact of every step you take. It allows you to twist and bend, accommodating a wide range of movement. Given its critical role in your musculoskeletal system, it’s no wonder that a wide variety of factors can cause back pain, from degenerative conditions to injuries to the impact of repetitive exercise movement. Some of the common causes of back pain include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Herniated discs
• Fractured vertebrae
• Spinal stenosis
• Soft tissue sprains and strains
• Osteoporosis

Problems with your spine and back can also contribute to neck pain as well as radiating pain into your legs and arms. 

Your risk of back pain increases if you’re overweight or lead a sedentary lifestyle. You’re also more likely to develop a degenerative condition or sustain an injury as you age.

Dr. Haas and his associates provide comprehensive physical exams and consultations to identify the cause of your back or neck pain. They ask questions about your symptoms, lifestyle, and overall health and collect your personal and family medical history. 

Your provider may guide you through some gentle movements and stretches to gauge your pain and its influence on your mobility. They may also order additional testing such as X-rays, MRIs, or bone density scans to get to the root cause of your back pain.

At Preventive Medical Center of Marin, you receive customized treatment plans that combine a variety of therapies both to relieve your pain and address the condition causing it. Depending on your needs, your plan may include:

• Dietary changes to reduce inflammation
• Nutritional or herbal supplements
• Exercise
• Acupuncture
• Hot and cold therapies
• Topical herbal remedies, including capsaicin cream
• Massage, including active release techniques
• Structural and Physical therapy to improve your posture
• Medical prescriptions for pain relief and muscle relaxation

While physical activities may sound like the last thing you want to do when you have back pain, strengthening your muscles improves support for your back and also helps you lose weight, which reduces the strain on your spine. 

Call Preventive Medical Center of Marin to make an appointment for personalized assessment and treatment to resolve back and neck pain and restore your overall health and quality of life.