Back Pain Treatment in Albuquerque

The duration of back pain treatment varies depending on the underlying cause, severity, and chronicity of your condition. Acute back pain from a strain or injury often improves significantly within two to six weeks with appropriate treatment, though some residual discomfort may persist longer. Chronic back pain that has been present for months or years typically requires a longer treatment course, often three to six months or more, to achieve substantial improvement. Factors that influence recovery time include following the treatment plan, participating in physical therapy and home exercises, modifying aggravating activities, overall health and fitness level, and the presence of underlying structural problems. Dr. Hemmen gives you a realistic timeline at your initial evaluation, follows your progress closely, and adjusts treatment as needed.

Not all back pain requires medication, and the priority is the most appropriate treatment for your specific situation. Mild back pain may respond well to conservative measures such as activity modification, physical therapy, heat or ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers you may already have at home. For moderate to severe acute pain, Dr. Hemmen may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants for significant spasm, or short courses of stronger pain relievers to help you take part in physical therapy and daily activities. Chronic back pain management may involve medications targeting nerve pain if radiculopathy is present, but the goal is always the minimum effective medication alongside non-medication therapies such as exercise, manual therapy, and lifestyle changes. He weighs the benefits and risks of any medication, monitors for side effects, and works to taper medications as your condition improves.

Body1MD is a Direct Primary Care practice and does not bill insurance. Patients pay the practice directly through a month-to-month membership ($100/month under age 50, $150/month for age 50 and older) with no annual contract and no annual concierge retainer. Many Direct Primary Care members keep insurance or a high-deductible plan for things outside primary care, such as MRI and other advanced imaging, physical therapy, specialist visits, and hospital care. Coverage for those services varies by plan, including copayments, deductibles, and prior authorization rules, so it is worth checking your benefits. Dr. Hemmen's office can explain how outside labs, imaging and prescriptions are handled before you join.

If your back pain is not improving as expected, Dr. Hemmen takes a systematic approach to identify barriers to recovery and adjust your care plan. This may involve ordering imaging if it has not been done, to look for structural problems such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or other conditions requiring a different approach. He reassesses whether you're able to fully take part in prescribed therapies and helps with obstacles such as severe pain limiting exercise or work demands getting in the way of activity modification. He may try different medications or adjust doses, arrange physical therapy if you haven't already been seen, or refer you to specialists such as pain management physicians for procedures like epidural steroid injections, or orthopedic surgeons or neurosurgeons to evaluate surgical options if conservative measures have been exhausted. The commitment is to keep working the problem until you reach meaningful improvement.

Yes. Body1MD members have direct access to Dr. Hemmen by phone and text between visits, which helps when back pain makes getting to the office hard. Many follow-up questions can be handled this way: how a medication is working, side effects, physical therapy progress, a minor flare, or results from imaging ordered earlier. Dr. Hemmen will tell you whether a phone check-in is enough or you should come in. A new back problem usually needs an in-person examination, including hands-on assessment of the spine, a neurological exam, and checks of strength and reflexes, and same- or next-day appointments are available in most cases. New weakness, numbness, or other neurological symptoms should be seen in person promptly.

While most back pain is not an emergency, certain symptoms warrant immediate evaluation in an emergency department. Seek emergency care if you experience loss of bowel or bladder control, which may indicate cauda equina syndrome requiring urgent intervention; progressive weakness or numbness in the legs that is rapidly worsening; back pain accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss, or other signs of infection or systemic illness; severe pain following significant trauma such as a fall or motor vehicle accident; or back pain with abdominal pain that could indicate a vascular emergency. For less urgent but concerning symptoms, such as new leg pain, numbness, or tingling that doesn't resolve within a few days, back pain that is severe and not improving with rest and over-the-counter medications within a week, or pain that wakes you from sleep, call or text Dr. Hemmen promptly. Same- or next-day appointments are available in most cases, and he can help you decide on the most appropriate level of care.