Back Pain Specialist

What causes back pain?

Back pain generally comes from four primary sources:

Muscles or ligaments

A pulled muscle or sprained ligament in the spine are common causes of acute back pain.

Intervertebral discs

The discs between your vertebrae stabilize your spine and protect it from shock. As you get older, you might develop degenerative disc disease, where the discs dry out and weaken. Sometimes the outer shell ruptures, so the soft interior pokes through into the spinal canal. This is a herniated disc. A disc can also herniate following a trauma like an auto accident.

Facet joints

The facet joints in your spine link your vertebrae. Just like other joints, they can develop arthritis and become stiff, weak, and chronically painful. Arthritis can also trigger the growth of bone spurs, which your body produces to reinforce a weakened spine.

Sacroiliac joint

The sacroiliac joints in your pelvis can be a source of lower back pain. Arthritis and stiffness in these joints can cause pain in the pelvic and hip areas that radiates into the spine.

Arthritis, bone spurs, damaged or thickened ligaments, and herniated discs all cause a narrowing of the spinal canal called stenosis.

How is back pain diagnosed?

To find the cause of your back pain, the Neuropathy and Pain Centers of Las Vegas team conducts a physical exam and runs one or more simple, painless tests. These might include the NeuralScan test that detects abnormal small nerve function or the TM-Flow System that locates nerve and vascular system problems.

If you have a disc condition, you might need a discogram to confirm the diagnosis and identify the damaged area.

How is back pain treated?

Your provider starts your back pain treatment with the least invasive options. Depending on your pain generator (the source of your pain), you might benefit from conservative physical medicine techniques.

These could include various forms of physical therapy and passive treatments such as therapeutic ultrasound. Most patients also respond well to electric cell signaling treatment with the RST-Sanexas neoGEN® device. Other treatments available at Neuropathy and Pain Centers of Las Vegas include:

• Cooled radiofrequency therapy
• Steroid-free epidural injections
• Transforaminal epidural nerve root blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Posterior epidural stimulation
• Indirect decompression procedure
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
• Trigger point injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Nonsurgical spinal decompression
• Medtronic pain pump

In most cases, patients require little or no prescription medication because these treatments are so effective.

To find out how you can get relief from back pain with advanced treatments at Neuropathy and Pain Centers of Las Vegas, call the office or book an appointment online today.