Question 1

What causes back pain?

Accepted Answer

Acute back pain describes pain that lasts less than six weeks and is usually the result of overuse of the muscles and ligaments that support your spine.
 
Chronic back pain that lasts more than three months can be the result of age-related changes in your spine, degenerative disease, or injury. The most common causes of chronic back pain include:
 • Arthritis
 • Sciatica
 • Osteoporosis
 • Herniated discs
 • Spinal stenosis
 • Degenerative disc disease
Skeletal abnormalities like scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, can also cause back pain.

Question 2

When should I seek treatment for back pain?

Accepted Answer

You should schedule an evaluation of your back pain if it lasts several months, and especially if over-the-counter medications and rest don’t ease the symptoms. It’s also important to seek treatment for back pain if you become limited in what you can do at home or work or lose some or all of your mobility.
 
Dr. Upadhyay takes time to evaluate your medical history to determine the root cause of your back pain. He assesses your back’s flexibility and range of motion during a physical exam. He can also order X-rays or other imaging tests to help him identify herniated discs and other chronic spine conditions.

Question 3

How is back pain treated?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Upadhyay customizes your treatment plan to ease your pain and improve your spine health. Some options for chronic back pain not treatable with medications include:
 
Lumbar facet injections
 
Lumbar facet injections deliver anesthetic medicines directly into the small joints of your lower spine. These medicines numb your nerves to ease chronic pain and improve mobility.
 
Radiofrequency ablation
 
Radiofrequency ablation, a minimally invasive procedure, uses heat to stop pain signals in the nerves from traveling to your brain.
 
Spinal cord stimulation
 
Spinal cord stimulation delivers electrical impulses into your spine's epidural space to stop the pain signals that travel from your back to your brain. This eases chronic pain from herniated discs, sciatica, and other spinal conditions.
 
The mild procedure
 
An outpatient procedure, mild, developed by Vertos Inc. in Aliso Viejo, California, is used to treat pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. This condition narrows the lower spinal canal that your spinal cord runs through.
 
Using imaging guidance, Dr. Upadhyay removes small portions of bone and excess ligaments through a small incision to increase the space in your spinal canal.
 
Vertiflex™
 
Vertiflex, developed by Boston Scientific®, is a minimally invasive procedure to treat lumbar stenosis. The treatment involves placing a small titanium spacer between your vertebrae to relieve pressure on the surrounding nerves.
 
Prolotherapy
 
Prolotherapy involves injecting irritants into your spinal joints to stimulate your body’s own healing process. After the injection, your body produces new collagen to repair damaged tissue and stabilize your vertebrae.
 
Stem cell therapy
 
Stem cells change into any type of cell, including bone, muscle, and ligaments, that are needed to repair spinal damage. Injecting stem cells directly into the joints of your back stimulates your body’s natural healing ability. Dr. Upadhyay uses nonembryonic stem cells from your bone marrow.
 
If you need physical therapy as part of your recovery process, Dr. Upadhyay partners with local chiropractors to create a therapy plan to strengthen and heal your back.
To explore innovative treatments for back pain with an expert physician, call Aman Upadhyay, MD, today, or book your appointment online.

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