If you experience knee pain, you may assume that you have a knee problem – but that’s not always the case. While a knee condition may indeed cause knee pain, it may also be caused by a problem with your back, such as a pinched nerve or a disc protrusion. The lower back contains nerves that transmit sensation to the legs and feet.
On occasion, an injury or simply age can cause the discs in this area to press on these nerves. This compression can cause the nerves to send out pain signals, resulting in pain in the lower back itself – or along the nerve pathways in the legs, knees, ankles, and even feet. Your physician can diagnose the cause of your back or knee pain and help determine what treatments will be right for you. Some of the possibilities include:
Working with a physical therapist includes identifying the cause of your pain and designing treatments to address the underlying cause and provide effective relief. In general, when you arrive for your physical therapy appointment, you can expect consultation and an exam to evaluate your gait, any abnormalities in your bones or joints, your range of motion, your strength, your balance, and any signs of injury. Then, your physical therapist will prescribe a treatment plan tailored to your needs that may include exercises, stretches, and other therapies such as massage or the application of heat or ice.
Another possible path to relief is chiropractic care. A chiropractor may help treat the underlying issues that are causing your discomfort using chiropractic techniques designed to alleviate pain and help improve your overall health. Typically, a chiropractor will have a variety of possible angles of approach to treating pain, from applying ice to reduce inflammation to using massage techniques to increase range of motion to using chiropractic manipulation to help mobilize areas of restricted movement.
If you are experiencing back pain or knee pain that originates in the back, then a spinal cord stimulator might be a good option for you. Spinal cord stimulation is often used when non-surgical pain relief measures have been unsuccessful. This treatment can be used to address many different types of chronic pain, including back pain, post-surgical pain, and more. Spinal cord stimulation is often a good choice for patients who have not had good results from medications and other minimally invasive therapies and those without psychiatric disorders, which can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
There is a range of medications that can help treat back and knee pain. These drugs are often used with other treatments such as physical therapy or chiropractic treatments to achieve optimal relief. Medication options include:
Redefine Healthcare is a Tier-One, In-Network provider comprised of top-rated, board-certified physicians specializing in minimally invasive procedures that afford patients a pain-free lifestyle without surgery. Four minimally invasive ways Redefine Healthcare can treat back pain are:
At Redefine Healthcare, we focus on non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments for back and knee pain of all types. Contact us today for a consultation to learn more about your options.
Dr. Eric D. Freeman is a top-rated, best-in-class pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New Jersey and the country. He is an award-winning expert and contributor to prominent media outlets.
Dr. Eric D. Freeman has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain. He has been named a “top pain management doctor in New Jersey” and one of “America’s Top Physicians” for advanced sports injury treatments.
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