Symptoms:

– Aching

– Burning sensation

– Sharp or dull/stabbing pain

– Radiating pain over the buttocks and/or thigh area

Causes:

– Injury

– Pinched nerves

– Spinal pressure from overuse, strenuous activity, obesity

– Degeneration of vertebrae

– Infection

– Ligament or muscle tears

– Spinal Stenosis

– Protruding or herniated disks

– Osteoarthritis, spondylitis, compression fractures

Treatments:

– Physical rehabilitation

– Activity modification and assistive devices

– Weight loss

– Epidural steroid injections

– Muscle relaxers

– Surgery as a last resort

What Is Helpful to Diagnose Low Back Pain?

Our trained specialists will perform a complete medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic procedures to develop a plan to treat your lumbar spine pain.  In addition the following may be helpful:

• X-ray and CT Scan. These imaging techniques use X-rays to image bones, organs, muscles, and fat.  The images may aid in the diagnosis of bone, spinal disc, and soft tissue damage.
• MRI. A non-invasive test that uses large magnets to make detailed images of organs and nerve related elemenets.  MRI images may aid in the diagnosis of nerve damage and possible causes.

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Thoracic Spine (Upper Back) Pain

The typical pathology of the Thoracic Spine pain we see at our clinic is myofascial pain (muscular irritation) and forms of joint dysfunction. The large muscles that attach the shoulder girdle to the scapula and back of the thoracic rib cage are prone to irritation from strenuous activity or repetitive overuse. Joint dysfunction can arise in the joints that connect the ribcage to the vertebrae of the Thoracic spine.

Symptoms:

– Pain that radiates from the spine to the chest or abdomen

– Diffuse pain in the upper-back along the spine or through the muscles

– Severe skin pain associated with a rash

– Pain when lifting arms

– Chese pain when breathing

Causes:

– Pinched nerve

– Muscle or joint disease in the upper back

– Shingles

– Vertebreal compression fracture

– Chostochondritis

Treatments:

– Epidural steroid injection

– Trigger point injections, joint steroid injection

– Facet injections/Rhiotomy

– Nerve pain medicine (anti-seizure medications)

– Kyphoplasty

What Is Helpful to Diagnose Lumbar Spine Pain?

Our trained specialists will perform a complete medical history, physical exam, and applicable diagnostic procedures to develop a plan to treat your lumbar spine pain.  In addition the following may be helpful:

• X-ray and CT Scan. These imaging techniques use X-rays to image bones, organs, muscles, and fat.  These images may aid in the diagnosis of bone, spinal disc, and soft tissue damage.
• MRI. A non-invasive test that uses large magnets to make detailed images of organs and nerve related elemenets. MRI images may aid in the diagnosis of nerve damage and possible causes.
• Electrodiagnostic studies—electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV)—also might aid in the diagnosis of neck and shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness, and tingling.

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Cervical Spine (Neck) Pain

Many patients complain about neck pain, probably due to the neck’s location and high range-of-motion – it is often left unprotected and at risk for injury. Neck pain can range from mild discomfort to disabling, chronic pain.  Seek medical advice as soon as possible after the injury to minimize further injury and discomfort.

Symptoms:

– Tender to the touch

– Sharp/stabbing pain

– Stiffness/poor range of motion

– Spasomadic (bursts) pain

– Burning and tingling sensations

Causes:

– Injury to muscles, tendons or ligaments

– Pinched nerves

– Herniated disk in the neck

– Arthritis

– Cervical (neck) disk degeneration

– Congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the vertebrae and bones

– Tumors

Treatments:

– Medication for inflammation and pain control

– Physical Therapy

– Corticosteroid injection

– Heat compresses

– Surgery as a last resort

What Is Helpful to Diagnose Neck Pain?

Our trained specialists will perform a complete medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic procedures to develop a plan to treat your neck pain.  In addition the following can be helpful:

• Blood tests. These tests can help diagnose underlying inflammatory disease.
• X-rays imaging can be helpful in diagnosing neck and shoulder pain. X-ray images can reveal disc space narrowing, rheumatologic disease, destructive lesions, slippage, stenosis, fractures, and instability with flexion-extension views.
• MRI.  A non-invasive test that uses large magnets to make detailed images of organs and nerve related elements in the neck and shoulder.
• Myelography/CT scanning is sometimes used as an alternative to MRI.  A contrast agent (a colored dye) is injected into the target area.  Myelography can aid in diagnosing problems in the spinal cord and nerve roots.
• Electrodiagnostic studies—electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV)—also might aid in the diagnosis of neck and shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness, and tingling.

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Pinched Nerve (Sciatica)

Additional Resources:

• American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: What is pain management?
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Neck pain.

This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of a doctor or health care provider. Please consult a health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.