Backpacks & Spine Health | Pain Management | East Texas

Back to school is here for East Texas students. Many students will be walking to and from school, as well as all around school, with heavy backpacks full of books and learning materials. All parents should be aware and monitor the weight of their child’s backpack throughout the year. Backpacks and spine health go hand-in-hand – too much weight carried on the back can lead to additional muscle stress and back pain. If you have questions about the weight of your child’s backpack, please contact the pain management doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler.

In a large study, it was found that over 33% of children between the ages of 11-14 years reported some level of back pain and discomfort. The students who carried heavier backpacks reported more back pain than the students who carried lighter backpacks. Many medical professionals agree that heavy backpacks can lead to spinal injuries including muscle fatigue, lumbar curvature and lumbar disc compression. 

The back pain and discomfort caused by a backpack too heavy can usually be alleviated with reduced activity and/or rest. Pain management doctors often recommend that backpack weight should be limited to 10-15% of the child’s body weight in order to reduce the risk of spinal injuries. 

If you live in the East Texas area and would like additional information on backpacks and spine health, please contact the pain management doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler today. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Youth Sports Injuries | Pain Management Doctors | East Texas

A new school year is right around the corner for students in the East Texas area. This means competitive sports will be in full swing throughout the year. According to the CDC, participation in organized sports continues to rise in students of all ages. Unfortunately, this increase in participation has also led to a rise in acute and chronic youth sports injuries. The pain management doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler are available to treat a number of common sports injuries this school year in East Texas youth.

School-related competitive sports provide a number of social and physical benefits, but they also bring the risk of sports injuries. The most commonly diagnosed youth sports injuries include ligament sprains, muscle strains, overuse injuries and growth plate injuries.

Treatment for youth sports injuries varies depending on the injury present. Many sports injuries can be easily treated with the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method. In more severe injuries, pain management injections or physical therapy may be prescribed by a pain management doctor to alleviate symptoms while the body heals.

For additional information on preventing and treating youth sports injuries, please contact the East Texas pain management doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler today. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Shingles | Pain Management | Tyler Texas

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is characterized as a viral infection that causes a painful rash. The health condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After an individual has chickenpox, usually in their younger years, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue around the brain and spinal cord. If the virus reactivates in later years, the virus is known as shingles. The pain management doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler are available to assist individuals suffering from this painful condition at their Tyler, Texas practice.

Shingles occurs in various stages. The first stage is marked by light sensitivity and headaches. Many people also report flu-like symptoms, but with no fever. Later, the condition causes pain, itching or tingling in a certain area. This is the area where a band, strip or small area of rash develops after a few days. The rash will then turn into blisters, followed by the blisters filling with fluid and crusting over. It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the blisters to heal. 

Shingles is treated with medicines, including antiviral medications and pain medications. Typical medications include Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir. Antidepressants and anticonvulsants are also commonly prescribed. Other pain management treatments include Capsaicin cream, numbing agents and corticosteroid injections. 

For additional information on shingles, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain management practice of Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Back Pain Pregnancy | Lower Back Pain | Tyler Texas

Many women in the Tyler, Texas area experience back pain during pregnancy, commonly starting in the second half of pregnancy. Lower back pain is a very common complaint in moms-to-be and is typically caused by weight gain, hormonal changes and a growing uterus. The pain doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler are available to help expecting mothers in the East Texas area who are experiencing back pain that is hindering their daily activities.

Expecting mothers can blame their lower back pain on hormonal changes, a growing uterus and other fairly common causes including weight gain and posture changes. Back pain during pregnancy usually occurs at the sacroiliac joint, where the pelvis meets the spine.

It is reported more than 2/3 of women experience back pain during pregnancy, especially lower back pain. The good news is that the pain gradually diminishes in the majority of women following childbirth.

For additional resources on lower back pain during pregnancy, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain doctors at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Facet Hypertrophy | Pain Management | Tyler Texas

Facet hypertrophy is the medical term used to describe an enlargement and degeneration of the facet joints. The facet joints connect the spinal vertebrae and are responsible for providing motion and flexibility to the spine. This back condition is generally found in adults over the age of 30 years. The physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler are available to diagnose and treat facet hypertrophy symptoms with the latest pain management treatment options in Tyler, Texas.

The enlargement of the affected facet joints is usually a result of the body’s own healing abilities. In an attempt to make degenerating joints stronger, the body creates bone tissue on the joints. The extra bone tissue causes unwanted symptoms to occur because the joints become larger and increase pressure on the surrounding spinal structures. In more severe cases of facet hypertrophy, the joint can become so large that it places pressure on the spinal nerves.

After a medical review, physical examination and diagnostic testing, a physician will be able to determine if facet hypertrophy is the cause of back pain and discomfort. Treatment options will be discussed in great detail after a diagnosis is reached.

To learn more about facet hypertrophy, or to discuss pain management options for this condition, please contact the Tyler, Texas office of Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Spinal Stenosis | Lower Back Pain | Pain Physician Tyler Texas

Spinal stenosis is a common spine condition that affects numerous East Texas residents each and every year. This common cause of lower back pain can become a chronic condition if not diagnosed and treated by a pain physician in Tyler, Texas. Pain Recovery Center of Tyler is available to assist individuals who are suffering from the numerous symptoms associated with this condition.

Spinal stenosis is defined by the narrowing of the spaces within the spinal canal, which causes pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. This condition occurs most often in the lower back and can lead to a number of unwanted and troublesome symptoms. There are a small percentage of individuals who have no symptoms, but the majority of people affected by spinal stenosis experience lower back pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. In many cases, the symptoms can worsen over time and lead to a chronic health condition if left untreated.

Once a diagnosis of spinal stenosis has been reached, a pain management plan will be developed. Treatment options depend on severity of symptoms and exact stenosis location. Common treatment options include medications, physical therapy, steroid injections and spinal decompression.

For additional details on lower back pain causes, or to determine if spinal stenosis is the cause of your pain, please contact the leading pain physicians in Tyler, Texas at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.