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Learning About Diabetes Diagnosis, Treatment and Research

Welcome to my site, my name is Jess Indaja. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after struggling with my weight throughout my teen years and adulthood. My doctor informed me about all of the dangers associated with my diet and exercise habits. I was encouraged to change the way I ate and moved in an effort to reverse my blood sugar problem. I made the changes, but still struggle with controlling my blood sugar. After going through this trying situation, I decided to make a site that may help others with problems associated with type 2 diabetes. I will discuss diagnostic procedures, treatments and medical research concerning this disease. I hope you visit often and learn all you can to control your type 2 diabetes or help others with this condition.

Learning About Diabetes Diagnosis, Treatment and Research

Why Your Doctor Might Refer You To An Orthopedic Specialist For Your Back Pain

by Carla Hudson

Back pain is a very common medical condition. Because the condition is so common, there are many medical treatments available including orthopedic medicine. The first step you should take when tackling your back pain is to speak with your family doctor.

The First Steps Your Doctor CanTake

Your family doctor may be able to prescribe medications that can make your back pain less serious. However, if the other treatments that your doctor recommends do not work, you might be referred to an orthopedic specialist.

Diagnostic Methods Used By an Orthopedic Specialist

To find out exactly what is wrong with your back, the orthopedic specialist can use one of several diagnostic tools. These can include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and myelograms. If these do not work, another option is to use a discography.

With this type of test, the orthopedic specialist can inject a contrast dye into the spinal area. This dye can allow the orthopedic specialist to identify what is wrong with your back based on the fluid pressure in the area where the back was injured.

If none of these tests are able to identify the cause of your back pain, the next step will be to perform a bone scan. By injecting a small amount of radioactive material into your bones, the orthopedic specialist can be able to determine if your bones have any infections, fractures, or disorders. 

Non-Surgical Treatments for Back Pain

Once your orthopedic specialist is able to determine what is causing your back pain, they can usually recommend a non-surgical treatment if possible. There are several options available including:

  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Nerve block therapy
  • Transcutaneous Electrical nerve stimulation

These treatments are primarily used to block pain signals. Some, such as the epidural steroid injection, only work for a limited period of time. 

Surgical Treatments for Back Pain

There are a very large number of surgical treatments that are available to treat back pain. Surgery is not always effective and can require months to fully recover. However, in some cases, it's an option that your orthopedic specialist might recommend. The types of surgeries include:

  • Spinal decompression
  • Intradiscal electrothermal therapy
  • Plasma disc decompression
  • Artificial disc replacement
  • Spinal fusion

These surgeries have various goals such as destroying damaged tissue so that it can regrow, adding bone cement, relieving spinal column pressure, and strengthening collagen fibers. Once your surgeon is able to identify the problem, they might be able to treat the root cause of your back pain.

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