Back Pain

Your back keeps you upright and supports the weight of your upper body. Whether from poor lifting or age-related degenerative changes, back pain is common. The physicians at Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain in LaGrange, Georgia, are highly trained pain management doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating back pain. Whether the pain is acute or chronic, TDI Pain can help. Call the office today or request an appointment online to learn more about back pain treatments.

What are the different types of back pain?

Back pain refers to any level of discomfort you feel in your back, ranging from a dull ache to severe and immobilizing pain. Though this discomfort may affect any part of your back, it most often occurs in the lower back or lumbar spine.

Back pain is either acute or chronic.

Acute back pain
Most people with back pain have acute pain, meaning it lasts no longer than a few weeks. This type of pain usually occurs after an injury.

Chronic back pain
If you have back pain that lasts 12 or more weeks, then you have chronic back pain. It’s possible for acute back pain to turn into chronic pain. You can also develop chronic back pain from an underlying medical condition.

What causes back pain?

You can develop back pain from an array of causes. In most cases, the discomfort occurs because of problems related to the structure and function of your back.

Some of the common causes of back pain include:

• Arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Herniated disc
• Sprain or strain
• Sciatica
• Spinal nerve compression 
• Spinal stenosis

You can also develop back pain from a condition not related to the back such as kidney stones or fibromyalgia.

How is back pain diagnosed?

When you come into Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain, the provider performs a thorough evaluation so the underlying cause and severity of your back pain can be identified.

Your symptoms, medical history, and daily routine will be assessed. The provider then performs a physical exam, paying close attention to the structure and movement of your spine and back. 

Your provider may order diagnostic tests to confirm the cause of your pain, such as an X-ray, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What treatments can help my back pain?

Depending on the severity and location of your back pain your provider may recommend:

• Activity modification
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Pain medications
• Physical therapy
• Lumbar or Thoracic Epidural
• Lumbar or Thoracic Medial Branch Block
• Lumbar or Thoracic Radiofrequency Ablation
• Sacroiliac Joint Injection or Infusion
• Transforaminal Epidural 
• Trigger Point Injection
• Corticosteroid Joint Injection

Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain incorporates a number of modalities to help you get long-term back pain relief. The provider works closely with you, creating a plan that eases your discomfort so you can get back to doing what you enjoy.

Call Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain today or request an appointment online to learn more about back pain treatments.