Different Physicians For Back Pain And Neck Pain


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Back and neck pain are common health complaints for most of us. How we treat them, however, depends a lot on the nature of the ailment and the severity of the pain. One of the best ways to get an accurate diagnosis of the condition is to consult a qualified physician. Here's a look at the different doctors and specialists you should seek help from in case of back and neck pain.

Your family doctor or a general physician is probably the first medical professional you'll consult in case of back and neck pain. They are usually well equipped to deal with such conditions. In case of severe or extreme pain however, they may order additional diagnostic tests or refer you to a specialist to deal with the same. In any case, they would be able to help you with short term pain management by prescribing appropriate medication.

A pediatrician is the ideal doctor to go to if your child is suffering from back or neck pain. They usually administer to kids from birth to early adolescence and can help treat most disorders that affect this particular age group. A pediatrician is well trained to deal with back pain symptoms and injuries that affect children.

An orthopedic physician is a medical professional who specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems. This includes most conditions of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves including those of the head, the foot and the spine. An orthopedist usually addresses ailments such as low back pain, sciatica, scoliosis and ruptured disks.

A neurologist may also be able to help you with back or neck pain caused by serious diseases of the nerves. They are best suited to treat patients suffering from chronic and long standing pain. Being experts at discovering the origin of the ailment, a neurologist will be able to examine the nerves and find the underlying causes for the same. They are however, not trained to perform surgeries on the spine. A neurosurgeon, on the other hand, is trained to operate on the brain, the spine and the spinal cord for patients who have exhausted all other options of pain control.

Chiropractors are doctors who practice the hands on alternative medical discipline or chiropractics. They view and treat pain symptoms through the effect of spinal anatomy on the body. The techniques used by such doctors, is aimed to remove obstructions to the nerve transmission flow.

A rheumatologist can help you deal with several back and neck pain causing ailments such as arthritis, spinal stenosis and spinal arthritis. They can also remedy back pain related diseases such as fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. They are best equipped to detect the causes of pain and swelling.

You may also consult an osteopath or psychiatrist for back and neck pain depending on your condition type and severity of pain.