Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

Pain in your back can stem from a variety of injuries affecting different musculoskeletal structures, as well as certain health conditions and diseases. If back pain is persistent, prolonged, or severe, it’s important to get an official diagnosis so you can get the treatment you need.

Foothill Pain Management can evaluate you to find out what’s causing your back pain. Common injuries and conditions that result in back pain include:

• Arthritis
• Muscle or ligament strains
• Herniated disc
• Scoliosis
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Kidney problems

Back pain is especially common because most people have poor posture habits. Your posture refers to how you hold your back when you stand or sit. If you’re constantly hunched over a computer screen or looking downward, the muscles and ligaments in your back can become overstretched and painful or sore.

When should I book an appointment for back pain?

Your back pain might recede with a bit of home care like resting, over-the-counter pain relievers, or heat and ice therapy. You should book an appointment at Foothill Pain Management to receive possible treatment if your back pain comes with:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain down your legs
• Any numbness or tingling
• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Fever

You should also book an appointment if your back pain stems from a specific traumatic injury or if it lasts for a long time with no improvement. Foothill Pain Management offers imaging procedures and other diagnostic tests that can help you find out the exact origin of the pain in your back.

How is back pain treated?

Foothill Pain Management uses a comprehensive approach to treat your back pain using more than one treatment. After identifying the origin, they might recommend one or more of the following treatments to minimize your back pain:

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections work against neck pain and pain in your lower back. After your provider carefully places an injection of steroids in the epidural space around your spinal cord, you can begin a rehabilitative stretching and exercise program.

Facet Injections

Facet injections treat pain originating in your spine’s facet joints, which allow you to bend and twist your back. Your provider uses an X-ray to guide the injections into the joints, which relieves swelling, inflammation, and back pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation involves a small implanted device that interferes with pain signals before they reach your brain.

Percutaneous Discectomy

If you have a herniated disc, your provider might recommend percutaneous discectomy. During the nonsurgical treatment, they remove material from the disc to ease the pressure it places on your nerves.

If your back pain or the accompanying symptoms are enough to disrupt your life and wellbeing, call Foothill Pain Management, or book an appointment online today.