Back Pain

Back pain is a widespread concern that affects 75-85% of Americans at some point in their lives. Most back pain is transient or temporary and can be attributed to overuse strains and injuries that will recover with little or no intervention. However, sometimes back pain, whether acute or chronic, has focal cause that requires intervention.

At Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialists, we have extensive experience and expertise in back pain treatment and provide the highest-quality care in surgical and non-surgical back pain treatment.

If back pain puts a crimp in your daily activities, call to learn more about surgical treatment of back pain, call the office today or request an appointment online.

Back Pain Q & A

Question: What are common causes of back pain?

• Every year, tens of millions of people experience around the world back pain. The leading causes of back pain include:
  • Strains and sprains
    • Strains and sprains happen when the muscles and ligaments in your back stretch too far and begin to tear. Repeated heavy lifting, sudden movements, and increasing your activity level without proper conditioning are common causes of injuries and muscle spasms in the neck and back.
  • Disc problems
    • Spinal discs are pads made of a tough outer cover filled with a gel-like tissue.
    • Each disc cushions the vertebrae compressing it (from the top and bottom).
    • The gel interior can push through a crack or weak spot in the outer layer, resulting in a herniated or bulging disc.
    • If the herniated disc material presses on a nerve, it can cause pain. If it pushes back towards the spinal cord it can cause narrowing (stenosis) and compression with loss of functions.
  • Arthritis
    • The spine is a common site of osteoarthritis. This degenerative condition causes wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage in the joint.
    • Arthritis can gradually lead to spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.
    • Arthritis can also cause alteration in the interactions of adjacent bones of a joint, a very common cause of pain.
    • Pain is caused when the bones and tissues of the narrowed canal squeeze on the nerve or the spinal cord passing through it.
  • Osteoporosis
    • Osteoporosis occurs when the bone becomes less dense, and thereby less strong and more susceptible to fracture or injury.
    • Osteoporosis allows something as minor as coughing, sneezing, or a stumble to lead to a painful compression fracture in one or more vertebral bones, sometimes compromising the larger nerves and spinal cord.
  • Other causes
    • At the Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialists, our team treats the full spectrum of disorders that cause back pain, even less-common conditions like spinal tumors, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and cauda equina syndrome.

Question: What symptoms accompany back pain?

• Back pain symptoms vary based on the type of underlying problem and the location including bones and a nerves affected.
• Back pain can be dull and aching or sharp and shooting.
• Pain can project into nearby areas of the body. “Sciatica” is radiating pain from the low back into the hips, buttocks, or legs.
• Numbness, tingling, and weakness can also occur. These symptoms are called radiculopathy, myelopathy, or neuropathy.

Question: How is back pain diagnosed?

• First, our team reviews your medical history and does a physical exam.
• They might order additional imaging or request functional neurologic tests such as. EMG or nerve conduction studies to evaluate the structures of your spine and measure your nerve function.
• These tests allow our surgeons to confirm a diagnosis and recommend the best treatment.

Question: How is back pain treated?

• About 90% of back pain cases get better without surgery. Non-surgical treatments for back pain include:
  • Rest and stretching
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Physical therapy, yoga, pilates
  • Postural and strengthening back exercises
  • Medial branch blocks
  • Sacroiliac joint injections
  • Trigger point injections
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation
  • Acupuncture
• If your condition is severe or your back pain continues despite non-operative treatment, if appropriate, our team may recommend surgery.
• We offer numerous procedure types depending on your back pathology, including minimally invasive spine surgery, hybrid spine surgery, and traditional open spine surgery. Categories of surgery range from simple needle procedures, discectomy or decompression surgery, simple spinal fusion to complicated spinal reconstruction with fusion, or sometimes disc replacement.

To learn more about the our expertise and patient-centered care of back pain, call Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Spine Specialists today, or book an appointment online.