Recognizing and Understanding Back Pain

Symptoms
Almost everyone experiences an occasional backache. If your pain persists or is severe, however, you could have more than a simple strain. You may feel sharp pain when bending over to pick up something. Your back pain could be constant or spasmodic. Lying down or arching your back may temporarily relieve your pain. Other back pain symptoms may include numbness and weakened leg muscles. With sciatica, pain follows the sciatic nerve from your back or outside part of your thigh and travels to your foot.

At The Spine Center at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephane Lavoie takes a personalized approach to pain management. This ensures that each patient receives individualized treatment. You’ll feel secure, knowing that The Spine Center’s multi-disciplinary team of pain management specialists will provide the most comprehensive and sophisticated treatment available, right in your community.

Why Am I Feeling Pain?

The Causes and Culprits of Back Pain
The causes of back pain are as varied as the people who experience them. Bad posture, excessive weight, a sedentary lifestyle, stress and aging can create pain. Strains or torn ligaments from heavy lifting, sudden movement or sports injuries are additional culprits. When bone spurs form on the vertebrae (osteoarthritis), this too, can inflict pain in your spinal nerves.

Spinal problems frequently occur when the spinal discs tear, rupture, bulge or simply wear out. When this happens, your discs are not effective “shock absorbers” for your spine. The vertebrae become inflamed, your nerves become irritated and back muscles tighten.

Dr. Lavoie follows three steps to pinpoint the source of your pain and to design your treatment plan:

   1. thorough medical history
   2. complete physical examination
   3. review of previous diagnostic tests and further testing, if necessary

When your back hurts, you don’t want to drive around the block, much less travel into Orlando. From diagnosis to treatment, the resources you need to recover from back pain are right here at The Spine Center at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial. Our patients’ consistently good outcomes testify to our quality of care. We go the distance so you don’t have to.

What Are My Treatment Options?
According to our pain management specialists/anesthesiologists, Dr. Evans Amune and Dr. Brian Jager, most people mistakenly believe that chronic pain is untreatable. Today, promising treatments can truly empower patients to conquer back pain. As pain management specialists, Drs. Amune and Jager tailor treatment plans to each patient. The doctors may advise you to try bed rest, hot/cold packs, massage, back supports or medication. Electrical nerve stimulation, epidurals or physical therapy may also be helpful. If these methods don’t work, back surgery may be an option.

Back Pain Treatment You Can Trust
Conservative and caring – these words best describe Dr. Lavoie’s approach to spinal surgery. While trained as a surgeon, he believes in using the least invasive treatments first. Only after careful diagnosis and with a very high potential for success, are patients qualified for surgery. Dr. Lavoie understands that surgery can be stressful for patients. Therefore, he believes in treating each patient as he would a family member, with patience, respect and concern.

Dr. Lavoie has a special interest in helping patients whose previous back surgeries have failed to alleviate their pain. Even if your past procedures were unsuccessful, advances in minimally invasive techniques are now producing excellent results. Success is the norm rather than the exception.

Reach beyond your limitations. Call The Spine Center at FFlorida Hospital Fish Memorial, 386-917-5799, to discover your treatment options.

The Spine Center at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial Services and Specialties

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Cervical and Lumbar Disc Replacement
• Cervical Fusion
• Kyphoplasty
• Microdisctectomy
• Non-surgical Pain Management
• Pain Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Still have questions? We invite you to schedule a consultation by calling The Spine Center at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial at (386) 917-5799.