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BACK PAIN

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Back pain is almost as common a problem as headaches and tummy aches, and very few people never experience some form of back pain. Fortunately, Rafael Justiz, MD, and Alina Justiz, MD, at Oklahoma Pain Physicians have a range of treatments available that can help ease back pain and improve your mobility. If you live in or near Oklahoma City or Norman, Oklahoma, you can benefit from their back pain solutions. Call today to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.​

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Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

Back pain is often due to an acute injury, for example, when you try and lift a heavy weight and pull a muscle in your back. These types of injuries can also occur if you:

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  • Move awkwardly

  • Twist suddenly

  • Overexert yourself

  • Fall over

  • Fall from a height

  • Lift incorrectly

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You can also develop chronic back pain if you have a disease or degenerative condition affecting your spine, such as:

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  • Arthritis

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Osteoporosis

  • Scoliosis

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Herniated disc

  • Spondylosis

  • Vertebral compression fractures

 

Very often, a chronic condition like degenerative disc disease results in an acute problem like a herniated disc. Repetitive strain and having poor posture can contribute to back pain too.

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What should I do if I have back pain?

If you have mild back pain, there’s a good chance you can resolve the problem with some self-care techniques. Gentle heat, rest, and using anti-inflammatory medication or muscle liniment can ease minor issues in a few days.

Don’t stop moving altogether, or your back might get worse. Instead, avoid the activity that brought on the pain, and do some gentle exercises and stretches. If you try this approach for several days with no improvement, or if your back pain is more severe, you should visit Oklahoma Pain Physicians for an assessment.

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How is back pain treated?

There are numerous potential treatments for back pain. The first stage is for the team at Oklahoma Pain Physicians to diagnose the cause of your back pain. Once they know why you have back pain, they can prepare a treatment plan specifically for you.Treatments in your plan could include:

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  • Physical therapy

  • Pain-killing medications

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs

  • Ultrasound therapy

  • Electrical stimulation

  • Manipulation therapies

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If your back pain isn’t improving after trying a conservative treatment plan, the Oklahoma Pain Physicians team can try other approaches, such as:

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  • Epidural steroid injections

  • Facet joint injections

  • Medial branch nerve blocks

  • Sympathetic blocks

  • Sacroiliac joint injections

  • Spinal cord stimulation

  • Peripheral nerve stimulation

  • Regenerative medicine

  • Radiofrequency ablation

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Radiofrequency ablation applies radiofrequency energy to create heat in the painful area. The heat causes a

lesion to develop on the nerve that’s sending pain signals back to your brain, decreasing your perception of

pain. Oklahoma Pain Physicians can also carry out highly advanced procedures for severe, nonresponsive

back pain, including:

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  • Lysis of adhesions (Racz® procedure)

  • Disc denervation and decompression

  • Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

  • Neurodestructive procedures

  • Minimally invasive lumbar decompression

  • Percutaneous disc decompression

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If back pain is causing you problems, call Oklahoma Pain Physicians today!

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