Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain services offered in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Covington and Rural Retreat, VA and Cornelius, NC

Lower back pain is surprisingly common, affecting up to four in five adults at some point. At Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates in Roanoke, Virginia, with five satellite offices throughout Virginia and another in North Carolina, interventional pain management physician Murray E. Joiner Jr., MD, provides complete care for lower back pain. Treatments include physical therapy, interventional pain management injections, and surgery. Call the nearest office today to schedule lower back pain treatment, or book your appointment online.

Lower Back Pain Q & A

Is lower back pain something to worry about?

It depends. Most lower back pain is caused by poor posture or general wear-and-tear. It usually improves with rest and activity changes. Seek treatment if your lower back pain continues for a week or longer. That’s particularly true if it happens alongside other symptoms, like leg and buttocks pain or difficulty walking.

What are the symptoms of lower back pain?

Lower back pain symptoms include:

Stiffness
Posture problems
Pain that extends into your buttocks and/or legs and feet
Muscle spasms
Difficulty sleeping

You might have trouble standing, walking, or moving, depending on the pain’s underlying cause.

What causes lower back pain?

Dr. Joiner treats lower back pain caused by various things, including auto accidents, sports injuries, and poor posture. He also provides more specialized care, including treating lower back pain caused by diseases like arthritis and fibromyalgia.

How does an interventional pain specialist diagnose lower back pain?

Dr. Joiner reviews your medical records and asks about your lower back pain, including where you feel it, what it feels like, and if it’s worse during certain activities, like standing, driving, or exercising.

He completes a physical exam, checking your lower back and buttocks for redness, bruising, and swelling. Dr. Joiner gently presses on your middle and lower back to identify sensitive spots and asks you to walk around to observe your gait (how you walk) and posture.

Dr. Joiner orders diagnostic imaging, like X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan, to check for arthritis, herniated discs, and bone spurs. He also completes electromyography testing to assess nerve and muscle function in your lower back.

How does an interventional pain specialist treat lower back pain?

Dr. Joiner takes a conservative, integrative approach to treating lower back pain. He might suggest:

Anti-inflammatory pain medication
Prescription pain medication
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Manual therapies, like massage or osteopathic manipulation
Corticosteroid injections
Ultrasound-guided epidural spine injections
Trigger point injections
Medical weight loss
Spinal cord stimulation
Intrathecal pain pump
Stem cell injections

Lower back pain typically responds to a combination of treatments. If your symptoms continue or get worse, Dr. Joiner might recommend orthopedic surgery. For example, if you have a herniated disc, Dr. Joiner can surgically realign the disc and keep your pain from getting worse.

Call Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates today to schedule lower back pain treatment, or book your appointment online.