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How Do Physicians Diagnose Back Pain?

About This Blog:

  • Patients with back pain often wonder where to start their journey of finding long-term pain relief.
  • Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine understands patients face many hurdles to get to their final destination: a pain management specialist or spine surgeon.
  • In this blog, Dr. Mark Giovanini shares how patients with back pain may be given an official diagnosis and what they can do after they’ve received this information.

Back pain is one of the most common ailments diagnosed today, and it affects Americans of all ages. If you’re experiencing back pain and want relief, more often than not you’ll see a doctor, right? Right. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may go to the ER, visit an urgent care, or schedule an appointment with your PCP. The first two places may be an option for people with severe, debilitating pain that needs immediate medical attention. In those instances, you will likely receive care from your admitting physician.

If your pain is relatively mild to moderate and chronic, you may seek treatment from your PCP. This is usually the first step in the process if you don’t know what’s causing your pain. A PCP may perform a physical examination and order x-ray imaging to get a better understanding of your condition. Sometimes, this with provide a clear diagnosis and your PCP will determine whether or not they can treat your condition. Other times, a second opinion is needed. That’s where Dr. Mark Giovanini comes in.

There are instances where patients can schedule an appointment without a referral – it all depends on what their insurance will allow. Nevertheless, call NeuroMicroSpine to schedule an appointment with Dr. Giovanini. He will review your case and perform additional diagnostic procedures to pinpoint the exact cause and location of your pain. The most common diagnostic tool is a facet block or selective nerve root injections. These injections contain a local anesthetic and steroid medication mixture to reduce pain and inflammation in the spine.

These therapies are performed under x-ray guidance, which is also called fluoroscopy. These procedures generally take 45 minutes to an hour to perform, and they help Dr. Giovanini determine the best form of treatment for your back pain. Depending on your diagnosis, he may recommend non-surgical interventions like physical therapy, nutrition counseling, and some minimally invasive procedures. Or, he may recommend minimally invasive surgery. Typically, he’ll recommend the latter if he knows surgery will get rid of the back for good!

Call NeuroMicroSpine today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Giovanini. He’ll explain his process and answer any questions you may have about your condition and symptoms. Don’t wait any longer, call today!

For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit https://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.

We hope to see you soon!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.