Back Pain

New Jersey Pain Management

Spine, Sports & Pain Medicine Centers located in Morristown, NJ & Bridgewater, NJ & Rockaway, NJ

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work around the world. At New Jersey Pain Management in Morristown, Bridgewater, and Rockaway, New Jersey, a dedicated team, directed by Alena Polesin, MD, and Philip Rubinfeld, MD, can help manage your back pain quickly, so you don’t have to worry about it affecting your performance at work. Call or book an appointment online today to learn more about back pain management.

Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

An extremely common condition among adults, back pain can range from a sharp pain that comes on suddenly to a dull ache that persists constantly. There are plenty of reasons you may be experiencing back pain, including:

Bulging or ruptured disc

Over time, due to age or trauma, the discs in your vertebrae that serve as cushions to absorb shock can deteriorate. This makes them prone to bulging or slipping in your back, leading to a slipped disc, which may tear without treatment.

Sciatica

A pinched sciatic nerve in the back, typically compressed by a slipped disc, can cause back pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling from your back down to your buttocks and thigh.

Osteoporosis

A sudden, sharp pain in your back after a cough or sneeze could indicate that your bones have weakened, due to osteoporosis, which can lead to a compression fracture of the vertebrae. This debilitating pain is usually localized to one spot and doesn’t radiate past the fracture.

Spinal stenosis

As you age, the spinal canal in your back naturally narrows, sometimes forcing the nerve roots to compress. This gradual compression leads to back pain, muscle weakness, tingling, and numbness.

Do I have back pain treatment options?

Before starting treatment, your physician will run a number of tests to diagnose or rule out any medical problems. After checking your medical history and performing a physical examination, your doctor may order a blood test or an MRI to get to the root of your pain.

When it comes to back pain, you have a variety of treatment options, depending on the severity of your particular case.

Rest

In most cases, time and rest are all you can do to relieve back pain. Your doctor may recommend ice and heat to speed up the healing process, but your back pain should subside on its own with a little rest and relaxation.

Pain management medication

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants are the two most common medications used to treat lower back pain. More invasive options include trigger point injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and prolotherapy.

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections are a minor outpatient procedure in which a needle is inserted into the epidural space using X-ray guidance. Steroid medications are then injected to reduce inflammation and pain. In most cases, patients experience relief in two to seven days.

Physical therapy

To strengthen your back muscles and improve overall mobility, your doctor may recommend a treatment plan that includes regular physical therapy sessions. In addition to a low-impact exercise regime, physical therapy can help relieve back pain over time.

Surgery

In rare cases, your physician may suggest spine surgery to alleviate back pain if less invasive options fail to provide noticeable relief.

For more information on back pain causes and treatments, call New Jersey Pain Management or book an appointment online today.

FAQ's