Back And Neck Pain Specialist

What causes back and neck pain?

Back and neck pain can result from injuries or overuse of the muscles that support your spine. This type of pain is often acute, lasting less than six weeks. Acute back and neck pain typically go away with rest, over-the-counter medications, and heat or ice therapy.

Degenerative spinal changes that happen with aging or trauma can increase your risk of chronic back and neck pain. Chronic pain lasts six months or longer and is often not treatable with home care.

Common causes of chronic neck and back pain include:

• Arthritis
• Bone spurs
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint instability
• Degenerative disc disease

You can also be at risk of chronic pain in your lower back caused by sciatica, a condition where bone spurs or herniated discs push on the sciatic nerve. This large nerve starts in your lower (lumbar) spine and travels down into your hips and legs. Pressure on the sciatic nerve leads to shocklike pain sensations, weakness, and numbness in your back, hips, and legs.

When should I seek treatment for chronic neck and back pain?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Interventional Spine and Pain Institute for back and neck pain when you can no longer treat it on your own. Dr. Esposito also recommends evaluating your back and neck pain if they prevent you from meeting your daily responsibilities.

Using the on-site diagnostic technologies, Dr. Esposito identifies what’s causing your pain and determines which treatment will relieve your symptoms. He customizes a care plan to address the underlying cause of your pain and prevent your condition from getting worse.

How are back and neck pain treated?

Your pain management plan for back and neck pain can initially include heat or ice therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and pain relievers. You might also benefit from physical therapy and at-home exercises to improve your spine’s health and flexibility.

If these treatments aren’t enough to relieve your spine pain, Dr. Esposito might suggest minimally invasive spine procedures like:

Epidural injections

Epidural injections deliver anti-inflammatory and anesthetic medications directly into the epidural space of your spine to relieve chronic back and neck pain. Dr. Esposito uses the guidance of fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray technology, to inject the medicines into just the right spot in your spine.

Regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine uses stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to harness your body’s own ability to heal itself. This treatment stimulates the production of new cells to replace those damaged by disease or injury.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a nonsurgical method that uses radiofrequency energy to destroy nerve fibers that contribute to pain in your spine. Once destroyed, the nerves no longer transmit pain signals to your brain.

Sacroiliac joint stabilization

If you have lower back pain because of instability in your sacroiliac joint, you could be a candidate for sacroiliac joint stabilization. This procedure fuses a bone graft from another part of your body to the SI joint to limit its movement.

Call Interventional Spine and Pain Institute today or go online to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for chronic back and neck pain.