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Back pain can change the course of your days, preventing you from enjoying your everyday routines. Help is available through the care of interventional pain management physician Murray E. Joiner Jr., MD. You can access the services of Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates in Roanoke, Virginia, with an additional five office locations in Virginia and one in North Carolina. Don’t let back pain shape your life when help is available; call or click today to book an initial visit.
Back Pain Q & A
What are some potential causes of acute back pain?
Acute pain happens unexpectedly and with little warning. Your back is a complex network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones that stabilize your body and enable mobility. When any of these structures sustain damage from trauma or age-related changes, acute back pain can develop.
One of the most common causes of acute back pain involves muscle strains, which can result in limited mobility. You might also develop acute pain in your back if you have poor posture over time.
What are some potential causes of chronic back pain?
Chronic pain lasts for months or even years. There are several conditions that can lead to chronic pain, and that's partly due to age-related changes in the spine. These conditions include:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes the joints of the body to break down or become inflamed. With arthritis, bones begin to rub together, limiting mobility and creating pain that worsens over time.
Herniated disc
The discs that cushion the bones in your spine (vertebrae) can become damaged or herniated, forcing the soft-gel center to bulge outward. A herniated disc can put pressure on your spinal nerves and cause chronic pain.
Sciatica
Sciatica develops when a herniated disc or other physiological change places pressure on the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that extends from your lower back down into your buttocks and legs.
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy, commonly referred to as a pinched nerve, can cause shooting pain during sudden movements.
You can also develop chronic back pain due to structural issues in your spine, such as scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine. Lost bone density due to osteoporosis can lead to compression fractures in your vertebrae.
How does a pain management specialist treat back pain?
Based on diagnostic testing results, Dr. Joiner creates a treatment plan focused on improving pain and expanding your range of motion.
Dr. Joiner may initially suggest pain relievers and/or anti-inflammatories. But if those aren’t enough to control your pain from arthritis or degenerative joint damage, he might recommend anti-inflammatory and anesthetic medicine injections placed directly in the affected joint.
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment using heat to destroy certain nerves in the back and alter pain signals. It can also help manage back pain. Spinal cord stimulation is also available. An implantable device sends electrical pulses into your spinal nerves to control chronic back pain.
Are you looking for non-surgical solutions for persistent back pain? Schedule a consultation at Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates today using the online booking feature or by phone.