Back Pain

Back pain is a common complaint, affecting nearly 40% of adults in the United States. Whether your back pain is acute or chronic, Ronald J. Stern, MD, and the team at the Center for Pain Treatment in Sebastian, Melbourne, and St. Cloud, Florida, can help. They take a conservative and comprehensive approach to back pain, utilizing medication management and interventional pain treatments to help you get relief. Call the office nearest you today or schedule an appointment online.

What is back pain?

Back pain includes any type of discomfort that affects your back. The pain ranges from mild to severe and may last a few days or a few weeks or turn into a chronic condition.

Your back includes your spine, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that all work together to support the weight and movement of your upper body. Your spine also protects your spinal cord and serves as an exit for the spinal nerves that go to the rest of your body.

The structure and function of your back make it susceptible to injuries and diseases that cause pain. 

What are the common causes of back pain?

Most causes of back pain are mechanical, meaning the pain occurs because of problems involving the structure or function of the back. Some of the common causes of back pain include:

• Sprains and strains
• Herniated disc
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Facet joint syndrome
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing in the spinal canal)
• Vertebrae fractures

Many causes of back pain resolve over time. However, back pain is a common cause of chronic pain. For example, sciatica is a common cause of lower back pain that occurs from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Its painful symptoms may resolve and then return. 

Whether your pain is acute or chronic, the team at the Center for Pain Treatment can develop a plan that works best for you.

What happens during a back pain consultation?

You can expect a thorough and patient-centered exam when you visit the Center for Pain Treatment for help with back pain. The team reviews your symptoms and the types of medications and therapies you’ve tried to get pain relief.

They perform a physical exam and request diagnostic tests, such as imaging tests or blood work, to confirm or rule out the root cause of your back pain.

What are the treatments for back pain?

The team at the Center for Pain Treatment customizes your back pain treatment plan based on the cause, the severity of symptoms, and personal needs and goals. The team uses a combination of innovative interventional pain management procedures with conservative medication management for pain control.

Treatments for back pain include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• Lumbar transforaminal steroid injections
• Facet joint injections
• Lumbar facet radiofrequency neurotomy
• Nerve blocks
• Medial branch blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Vertiflex™ Procedure (a procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis)

The team works closely with you, adjusting your plan as needed to maximize pain relief and improve your quality of life.

For help with back pain, call the Center for Pain Treatment or schedule an appointment online today.