We all know someone with an aching back, and for more than 60% of us, it’s our own back. Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits and lost work days. It can present itself as anything from a dull throbbing ache to sharp, shooting pains down your legs.
If we’re lucky, a little muscle rub and pain reliever will restore our comfort and alleviate our lower back pain. This type of pain can be caused by poor posture, sleep positions, sitting too long, lifting heavy objects, or other overuse issues. However, lower back pain caused by such problems as lumbar compression fractures, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or arthritis often becomes chronic, or lasting longer than 12 weeks. Nerves are damaged, which makes pain more intense and more resistant to over-the-counter pain relievers.
Don’t live in distress; Lipson Pain Institute can help relieve your acute or chronic low back pain.
Patients typically seek out Lipson Pain Institute when they can no longer deal with relentless pain affecting every movement. We work with a variety of other providers, from physical therapists to neurosurgeons, in our efforts to relieve your pain by treating its source. Primary treatment goals are to reduce pain and boost mobility, so you can more comfortably return to your daily activities.
On your first visit, Dr. Lipson will talk with you about your medical history, your current situation, and treatments or medicines you have already tried. We’ll look at imaging studies and reports from other providers you may have seen. Together, we will create a multi-disciplinary plan to treat the cause of pain and relieve the symptoms. This approach considers the benefits of physical therapy, medication management, injections, procedures, or even surgery in your treatment plan.
At Lipson Pain Institute, we utilize a variety of treatment options, including injections or non-surgical procedures. Those commonly used for lower back pain include:
- Trigger point injections can relax knotted muscles contributing to back pain. A local anesthetic and a corticosteroid drug are injected into the trigger point(s). In some cases, a series of injections may be needed for on-going relief.
- Lumbar epidural steroid injections are given in the epidural space (outer space of the spinal cord) to treat pain and sciatica associated with inflammation. Relief from these injections is often temporary, and long-term use is not advised.
- Lumbar nerve blocks are also steroid injections used to reduce pain and inflammation caused by a herniated disc, sciatica, or spinal stenosis. They are administered at a nerve root, where it exits the spinal column. They frequently provide significant, temporary pain relief.
- Radiofrequency ablation, or rhizotomy, addresses the nerves that deliver pain signals to the brain. A needle is inserted in the painful area and an electrode is passed through it to heat and destroy nerve fibers. Pain relief from this procedure may not be immediate but can be effective for several months.
To learn more, check out our procedure videos here. The type of procedure recommended depends on each patient’s problem and the types of treatments he or she may have already tried. Education is a key element to our process, motivating patients to become actively involved in their pain management care.
Lipson Pain Institute believes in maintaining a caring and compassionate atmosphere to help improve the quality of life for those in pain. For more information or to schedule a consult, please call us at 863-293-4800 or visit our website at lipsonpaininstitute.com.
