Not all back healthcare professionals are made equal. For someone with back pain, there are a lot of medical specialisations to choose from, and unless you know what they are, finding the right one (or ones) to treat you might be difficult. Who do you go to and when do you go to them? Here’s a quick rundown of the options.
General Practitioners and Family Physicians
Your family healthcare provider, general practitioner (GP), or primary care physician (PCP) is generally your best choice when your neck or back discomfort first appears. They may prescribe pain relievers, suggest a few exercises, and refer you to a physical therapist.
If your doctor thinks your condition is significant, he or she will probably prescribe tests and/or send you to a specialist like a rheumatologist or a neurologist. However, family physicians may be sluggish to incorporate new back therapies as they become available.
According to a research published in the journal Spine in 2006. The study discovered that, other from obtaining your medical history and giving you a physical exam, which are two pillars of spine diagnosis, healthcare practitioners did not implement new guidelines issued by important medical organisations into their practises.
As a result, being proactive while looking for spine care may be beneficial to you. One method to achieve this is to do some research on diagnostic and treatment options before going to a doctor. Another option is to ask pointed questions during your visit.
Orthopedists
An orthopaedic healthcare specialist is a board-certified surgeon who specialises in musculoskeletal issues from head to toe. This, of course, includes the spine. Ruptured discs, scoliosis, and other kinds of neck and low back discomfort may be addressed by an orthopedist.
Neurosurgeons can do some of the operations that orthopaedic surgeons undertake. Spinal fusion, discectomies, and other surgeries are examples of such procedures.
Providers of osteopathic medicine
An osteopath is a board-certified healthcare professional who swears to operate in a holistic, patient-centered manner. To become a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), you must first graduate from a recognised medical school and complete the same programme as an MD, as well as 300 to 500 hours of musculoskeletal system study.
Osteopathic medicine is studied by around 20% of medical students. A DO completes an internship and residency programme (typically alongside MDs) after medical school, satisfies state licensure examinations, and usually achieves specialty certification. Osteopaths are frequently used as primary care physicians.
While osteopaths are permitted to prescribe medications and do minor procedures, they frequently focus on the environment and patients’ lifestyles, as well as performing hands-on adjustment.
Understanding Spinal Fractures
A major orthopaedic injury is a fracture or dislocation of one or more vertebrae in the spine induced by trauma. The majority of these fractures occur in the neck (cervical spine), mid back (thoracic spine), or low back (lumbar spine) as a consequence of a high-velocity event (lumbar spine). High-velocity collisions are linked to injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions, falls from great heights, and athletic incidents.
Neck fractures are most prevalent as a result of high-energy trauma and are uncommon in other circumstances. Because of its proximity to the spinal cord, any fracture of the cervical spine carries catastrophic repercussions. Only spinal fractures specialist can treat it.
All patient’s care who acquire neck fractures should be examined in a hospital emergency room. Patients who have sustained high-energy trauma or have regained consciousness require immediate diagnosis and care.
You may have discomfort, difficulties walking, or be unable to move your arms or legs depending on the severity of the injuries (paralysis). Moderate to severe pain that worsens with movement is the most typical sign of a spinal fracture. The kind of fracture and the degree of instability determine the treatment for spinal fractures.
