• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Bradley D. Ahlgren, MD
  • Call Today: (248) 215-8080 | (248) 840-2035
  • Request an Appointment
  • Home
  • Meet Dr. Ahlgren
  • Meet the Team
  • Conditions Treated
    • Back Pain
    • Neck Pain
    • Scoliosis
    • Sciatica
    • Herniated Disc
    • Bulging Disc
    • Degenerative Disc
    • Spinal Stenosis
    • Trauma & Injuries
  • Treatments
    • Cervical Spine Treatments
    • Thoracic Spine Treatments
    • Lumbar Spine Treatments
    • Microdiscectomy
    • Sacroiliac Injections
  • On-Site Services
    • Physical Therapy
    • Pain Management
    • Clinical Research
  • Blog
  • Contact & Locations
    • Rochester Hills
    • Satellite Locations

How Will a Doctor Determine the Type of Back Pain I Have?

April 30, 2021

in Back Pain
April 30, 2021
Tagged With: back pain doctor in Rochester Hills MI, back pain doctor near me, back pain relief, back pain treatment in Detroit, back pain treatment in Rochester Hills, back pain treatment near me, chronic pain treatment in Rochester Hills, chronic pain treatment near me, Physical Therapy near me, Physical Therapy Rochester Hills, Sciatica pain treatment near me
 

If you’re plagued by back pain, know that you’re not alone. It is a common problem, which experts estimate to affect up to 80 percent of the adult population in the United States.

Back pain may develop without an obvious cause, but it can also occur due to:

  • A muscle or ligament strain – From lifting a heavy object or a sudden awkward movement.
  • A herniated (ruptured) disc– Discs in the spine act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae). Damage to the disc can cause the fragment of the disc nucleus (the central portion filled with a lubricating substance) to bulge out of the annulus (the disc’s tough circular exterior) into the spinal canal. When the disc fragment slips out, it consequently puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord.
  • Sciatica– This occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated, compressed, or inflamed. Pain often travels from the pelvis to the feet.
  • Osteoarthritis -This causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in spinal joints. It often results from wear and tear, injury, or overuse, which causes the protective cartilage at the end of the bones to gradually wear away.
  • Spinal stenosis– This is a degenerative condition that can cause the spaces within the spine to narrow and eventually compress the spinal nerves.

For you to be able to ascertain whether your back pain is the result of any of the abovestated conditions, you need to see a spine doctor, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of conditions that cause back pain.

Diagnosing Back Pain

A spine doctor can confirm a diagnosis based on a comprehensive physical examination. This includes reviewing your symptoms and medical history and performing specific movements to evaluate your spine’s strength, function, and range of motion.

Your back pain doctor will likely order diagnostic tests, especially if they suspect that your pain is caused by a spine condition. Your doctor will likely order any or a combination of the following tests:

  • An X-ray to check the alignment and to assess any damage to the spine
  • MRI or CT scan to identify any abnormalities in the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels in the spine.
  • A blood test to check for infection.
  • A bone scan to diagnose any problems with the bones, such as osteoporosis
  • A nerve conduction study (NCS) or electromyogram (EMG) to assess and measure the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and muscle response. It can identify nerve problems, particularly compression.

Spine Doctor in Rochester Hills

If you’re looking for a highly-skilled spine doctor in Rochester Hills, visit us at Ahlgren Spine. Dr. Bradley Ahlgren offers an extensive range of innovative nonsurgical and surgical treatment options to help you effectively address your back pain, so you can function normally again and enjoy a good quality of life.

To book a consultation with Dr. Ahlgren, or to find out more about our services, call us at (248) 215-8080. You can also use our online appointment request form.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Ankle Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Back Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Cervical Disc Herniation
  • Disc Degeneration
  • General
  • Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Lumbar Surgery
  • Neck Pain
  • Orthopedics
  • Pain Management
  • Physical Therapy
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Sciatica Pain
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine
  • Spine Pain
  • Spine Surgeon
  • Spine Surgery
  • Steroid Injections
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Uncategorized

Tags

Ahlgren Spine Ahlgren Spine Orthopaedic Surgery Arthritis Back Pain back pain doctor in Rochester Hills MI back pain doctor near me back pain relief back pain treatment near me Back Surgery Bradley D. Ahlgren MD Chronic Pain Chronic Spinal Pain Degenerative Disc Disease Herniated Disc herniated disc treatment Herniated Disc Treatment near me lumbar disc herniation doctor near me orthopedic doctor Rochester Hills MI Orthopedics Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Rochester Hills MI Orthopedic Spine Surgeon near me Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Rochester Hills MI orthopedic surgeon Rochester Hills MI Pain Management Physician physical therapist near me physical therapist Rochester Hills MI Physical Therapy physical therapy Bad Axe MI physical therapy clinic near me Physical Therapy near me Physical Therapy Rochester Hills physical therapy Rochester Hills MI Sciatica pain treatment near me Scoliosis treatment near me Scoliosis Treatment Southeast Michigan Spinal Pain spine doctor near me Spine Specialist Spine Specialist near me spine surgeon Spine Surgeon near me Spine Surgeon Rochester Hills MI spine surgery steroid injections near me

Footer

 Our Blog

 Discover the latest news, advancements, and techniques in the field of spinal orthopedics, as well as special announcements pertaining to our practice, with our informative blog.

LEARN MORE 

Patient Education

Want to know more about the conditions we treat and the ways in which acute and chronic back and neck pain can be relieved? Our exclusive patient education library has the answers to your questions.

LEARN MORE 
  • Home
  • Meet Dr. Ahlgren
  • Meet the Team
  • Conditions Treated
  • Treatments
  • On-Site Services
  • Blog
  • Patient Education
  • Contact & Locations
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
Copyright © · Ahlgren Spine · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Ahlgren Spine, Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatments of spine conditions such as, Back Pain, Neck Pain, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Herniated Disc, Bulging Disc, Degenerative Disc, Spinal Stenosis, and Spinal Trauma & Injuries.