Back Pain

Back pain will affect over 80% of individuals at some point during their adult life. The estimated annual cost to society in both lost productivity/wages and medical expenses is approximately 20-50 billion dollars. Back pain is one of the most common complaints that patients present to their primary doctor and probably the most common complaint in most Pain Management Clinics. Back pain can result from a number of causes including fall, lifting injury, muscle strain, bulging disc, arthritis, facet joint disease, nerve root pain or sciatic, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, spinal stenosis, post surgical and many other causes. Smoking, manual labor and pregnancy are associated with increased incidence of back pain.

Back pain may present itself in a number of ways and can involve one or both sides of the lower back, the hip or buttock and pain may radiate down the leg or legs. The pain is considered acute low back pain if it present for less than 3 months. Chronic low back pain is considered pain that has been present for more than 3 months. Of the individuals that experience acute low back pain, about 70% can become pain free with conservative therapy (rest, medications, physical therapy and injections), although there is a 25% risk of reoccurrence. Chronic low back pain has been associated with greater disability and psychological distress, and can be more challenging to treat.

The workup of low back pain will include a comprehensive history and physical exam by your physician and may involve diagnostic tests such as x-rays, CT scan, MRI’s, Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCV), lab tests and diagnostic injections/procedures. Once a specific diagnosis is found a treatment regimen is formed for each individual patient.

The treatment of back pain is targeted at treating the source of the back pain. Generally treatment will consist of a combination of rest, medications, physical therapy, exercise, modalities (heat, ice, ultrasound, TENS unit, etc), lumbar bracing, targeted injection therapy, and possibly surgery. Common medications that may be prescribed are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxers, anti-seizure medication, antidepressants and pain killers. Interventional procedures may be used as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Common injections for low back pain include; trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet joint block, sacroiliac joint injections, selective nerve root blocks, and more advanced treatments include spinal cord stimulators.

Our Fellowship Trained Pain Management Physicians will guide you through the treatment of your back pain. Our goal is to relieve your pain and help you live life to the fullest.

For more information on how we can help you, please visit our Services and Conditions sections, or to schedule a Consultation with one of our Board Certified Physicians, Contact Us today.