Back pain, neck pain, and back spasms are common symptoms of spinal problems. Watch this video to learn more about these symptoms—and find out how a spine doctor in Los Angeles can help.

A spine doctor regularly treats many different kinds of spinal injury. Back problems can result from injury or as a natural side effect of aging. Some spinal injuries, like a slipped disc, may not exhibit any symptoms at all. However, back problems are commonly accompanied by upper back pain, lower back pain, or neck pain. If back pain persists for several days, you should contact a spine specialist as soon as possible, as there is likely a more significant problem.

Spine specialists in Los Angeles offer numerous treatments to improve back pain and spinal health . Back pain, neck pain, and lower back pain all have many different causes. To have the best possible prognosis, it is essential to visit a spine doctor to discuss your treatment options as soon as you first experience pain or discomfort. While back pain from a pinched nerve or pulled muscle may require little more than rest, some spinal injuries require surgery. Read on to learn the differences between conservative and surgical care.

Identifying Pain

When a spine specialist considers your options for conservative and surgical care, he or she will first attempt to determine the root cause of your back pain. Of course, if you have suffered a major spinal injury, the cause will be immediately clear. However, in some cases, a spine doctor cannot determine why you are uncomfortable or in pain. Physicians prefer conservative treatments to spine surgery in cases where spine pain has no clear cause.

Considering Therapy

If you still have bowel control and your spinal pain is not debilitating, a spine doctor may recommend therapeutic options to ease your symptoms. For example, for those who suffer from lower back pain, physical therapy exercises can strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles. Spinal injections can also ease pain and inflammation. Spinal injections are highly effective in delivering immediate pain relief and only target the specific areas of the spine that are inflamed.

Electing Surgery

Spine surgery may be necessary to provide lifelong pain relief. Fortunately, spine doctors now offer many minimally invasive surgical options. With new developments in surgical techniques, physicians can precisely target only the injured tissues. Without damage to your surrounding healthy tissue, you can expect a shorter recovery and faster pain relief. In some cases, spine surgery can ensure a patient’s long-term spinal function.

Dr. Timothy Harsthorn is a spine specialist at Marina Spine Center . Dr. Harsthorn provides a wide range of back and neck surgeries and services.

Dr. Harsthorn has been a spine specialist and orthopedist at Marina Spine Center since earning his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Dr. Harsthorn specializes in shoulder and elbow treatments, but regularly assists with patients who have suffered from athletic spinal injuries. Because spinal injuries often come with other symptoms, including numbness in the arms and legs, Dr. Harsthorn’s care is often relied upon for individuals who suffer from back pain. Dr. Harsthorn is a skilled orthopedist. His medical services and expertise broadly focus on foot and ankle treatments, as well as hand and wrist treatments. Dr. Harsthorn also regularly provides hip and knee replacement surgeries. If you suffer from pain or long-term discomfort in your back, neck, arms, legs, hands, or feet, it is important to contact a spine specialist to determine the root cause of your injury. Spine doctors can often use non-invasive, nonsurgical treatments to help you get immediate and lasting pain relief.

If you have recurrent disc herniation , undergoing spine surgery in Los Angeles may be necessary. A herniated disc is one of the most common problems a spine specialist treats. Also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when the spine’s soft center pushes through the spinal bones. A herniated disc can cause severe lower back pain and numbness in the arms and legs. Keep reading to learn more about how you can prevent it from recurring.

Precise Diagnosis

Visiting a spine specialist for a proper diagnosis is the first step in preventing a herniated disc from returning. A herniated disc is accompanied by many different symptoms, some of which can also indicate other back problems. For example, you may experience lower back pain or numbness after a spinal injury. By ruling out other kinds of spinal cord injuries, your spine doctor is better able to treat any back pain or discomfort stemming from your herniated disc.

Physical Therapy

After your spine specialist has diagnosed the problem, he or she may suggest physical therapy to treat the herniated disc. The key to herniated disc prevention is early intervention. When it is diagnosed right away, most people can use nonsurgical techniques to ease their symptoms and prevent recurrence. Your spine specialist may suggest specific exercises designed to strengthen your back muscles. He or she may also prescribe bed rest for the first day or two after experiencing back pain.

Prescription Medications

In addition to rest and physical therapy, a spine doctor might prescribe medications and injections to reduce pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen and naproxen are often recommended, as they are designed to ease inflammation. Epidural steroid injections can also be injected into the lower back. These injections are highly effective in reducing lower back pain. Steroid injections can generally provide immediate, short-tern pain relief. With early treatment, you and your spine doctor can create a plan to help you avoid spine surgery unless absolutely necessary.