{"id":581,"date":"2021-06-30T13:24:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T13:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/?p=581"},"modified":"2023-09-19T15:09:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T15:09:20","slug":"when-you-should-seek-a-specialist-for-back-pain-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/when-you-should-seek-a-specialist-for-back-pain-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"When You Should Seek a Specialist for Back Pain and How to Choose the Right One for You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Back pain affects an astounding&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.umich.edu\/1info\/FHP\/practiceguides\/back\/back.pdf\">80% of adults<\/a>. For many, the underlying problem isn\u2019t serious, and the pain goes away on its own. But for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/spinejournal\/fulltext\/2019\/12150\/personal_and_societal_impact_of_low_back_pain__the.9.aspx\">one in five<\/a>, a bout with back pain turns into a chronic, disabling condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though your pain and limited mobility are top concerns, back pain poses a threat beyond your discomfort. Ongoing back pain is a red flag for serious spinal problems, such as pinched nerves, which can get worse and cause complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The longer your pain persists, the more likely you are to need a specialist, such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/about\">David Chang, MD-PhD, DABNS<\/a>, in Roseville, Minnesota. Dr. Chang offers advanced spinal procedures that can get to the source of your pain, repair the problem, and give you long-lasting relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog, Dr. Chang explains when you should seek a spine specialist and how you can choose the right one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to see a spine specialist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re suffering from back pain, considering the following things can help you decide if you should see a specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Duration of back pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to back pain, you should feel better&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.umich.edu\/1info\/FHP\/practiceguides\/back\/back.pdf\">within six weeks<\/a>. However, you shouldn\u2019t always wait that long before seeking help from a back specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider scheduling an appointment if you can\u2019t go back to work or return to normal activities&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.umich.edu\/1info\/FHP\/practiceguides\/back\/back.pdf\">after two weeks<\/a>. You should also see a spine specialist any time you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Develop pain that radiates down your legs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have tingling or numbness in one of both legs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have weakness in one or both legs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have unexplained weight loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, you should know that time recommendations are just guidelines. Any time your pain or other symptoms are intolerable, you should call us. We can quickly assess your symptoms and give you a recommendation about the type of help you may need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Severity of back pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another factor to consider is the severity of your pain. If you lose sleep because of the pain, the pain interferes with your daily routine, or you\u2019re in pain for more than a few hours every day, you should see a specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red flags for serious spinal problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also a number of symptoms you should look out for, which could indicate there\u2019s a serious nerve-related complication. For example, if you get back pain following an injury, or if you develop back pain along with a fever, you should see a specialist right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some other reasons you should see Dr. Chang immediately is if you develop any of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lose feeling in your legs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have trouble with balance or walking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lose fine motor control in your hands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lose feeling in your buttocks and inner thighs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have bowel or bladder problems (incontinence or unable to go to the bathroom)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what spine condition causes your nerve damage, it\u2019s important to seek care from a spine specialist to prevent permanent damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choosing the right doctor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Treatment for back pain begins with the most appropriate conservative therapies. If you go through medications, physical therapy, and injections, and you still suffer from pain, then spine surgery may be your best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the right neurosurgeon comes down to two basic considerations: your relationship with the doctor and their qualifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doctor-patient relationship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Never ignore the importance of your relationship with your neurosurgeon. Their job is to explain your condition, give you comprehensive \u2014 but understandable \u2014 information, and help you make the best decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can only make a good decision when you feel comfortable talking with your doctor. You should be able to trust them and believe that they genuinely care for your well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to feel free to ask all of your questions and get a straight answer without feeling that the doctor is bothered with your questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doctor\u2019s qualifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s essential for your neurosurgeon to be board-certified and fellowship-trained. Beyond that, you should find out how much experience they have doing the surgical procedure needed for your specific condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another good indicator of the doctor\u2019s qualifications is the amount of their practice devoted to spine conditions and spine surgery. A physician whose practice focuses on spine patients will be up to date with the newest technologies and techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have back pain, Dr. Chang can help you. He can give you a thorough evaluation and explain the best path forward. To learn more,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/contactus\">book an appointment<\/a>&nbsp;online or over the phone with the office of David Chang, MD-PhD, DABNS today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back pain affects an astounding&nbsp;80% of adults. For many, the underlying problem isn\u2019t serious, and the pain goes away on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581\/revisions\/583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}