Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain can occur anytime, affecting your mobility and normal routine. Fortunately, various treatments can provide lasting relief and help restore your independence. At Houston Pain Services in Houston, Texas, board-certified interventional pain management specialist Adrian C. Dumitru, MD, and the team offer various treatments for lower back pain, including corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and, if necessary, surgery. Call Houston Pain Services today to receive treatment for lower back pain, or book your appointment online.

What is lower back pain?

Lower back pain is discomfort or stiffness in the lumbar spine –– the five vertebrae between your waist and the bottom of your rib cage.

Almost everyone experiences lower back pain, but if your symptoms make it difficult to sleep or keep you from routine activities, it’s crucial to figure out what’s happening. Treatment can prevent the issue from worsening and speed up your body’s healing process.

What are the symptoms of lower back pain?

Symptoms of lower back pain include:

• Stiffness
• Muscle spasms
• Posture problems
• Difficulty standing and walking
• Popping or crunching noises

Depending on the cause, your pain may radiate into your buttocks, legs, or feet.

When should I see a specialist about lower back pain?

Make an appointment with Dr. Dumitru and the team if you have back pain lasting for more than a week and keeping you from exercise or other normal activities. That’s particularly true if the pain occurs alongside other symptoms, like a fever or unexplained weight loss.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

Dr. Dumitru reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. He then completes an exam, checking your lower back and spine for bruising, redness, or swelling. Dr. Dumitru gently presses on your back and assesses your posture when sitting and standing. 

Next, he orders X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, checking your vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and the surrounding soft tissues for damage. If Dr. Dumitru suspects nerve damage (neuropathy), he conducts electromyography –– testing the health of your muscles and the neurons that control them.

How is lower back pain treated?

At Houston Pain Services, Dr. Dumitru and the team use minimally invasive treatments to manage lower back pain. They may recommend:

• Epidural corticosteroid injections
• Transforaminal epidural corticosteroid injections
• Facet joint blocks (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar)
• Sacroiliac joint blocks
• Coccygeal blocks
• Trigger point injections
• Lumbar and stellate ganglion blocks
• Piriformis muscle blocks
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET)
• Radiofrequency ablation

If your lower back pain continues or worsens, you may benefit from surgery. Dr. Dumitru offers several types of orthopedic surgery, including minimally invasive lumbar decompression and disc nucleoplasty.

Call Houston Pain Services today to explore the treatment options for lower back pain, or make your appointment online.