Back And Neck Pain

What causes back pain?

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor’s visits, missed work, and disability. Several conditions can cause back pain, including:

• Ligament or muscle strain
• Ruptured or bulging discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal irregularities, such as scoliosis

Arthritis and pinched nerves can also bring on back pain.

What causes neck pain?

Pain occurring in the neck is also common and can have several causes, including:

• Arthritis
• Whiplash
• Neck strain
• Fibromyalgia
• Pinched nerves
• Herniated discs

Spinal stenosis is another condition that may cause neck symptoms.

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space within the spinal canal or the area around the nerve roots. When these spaces narrow, it applies pressure to the nerves running through your spine. There are two primary types of spinal stenosis: Cervical stenosis affects your neck, and lumbar stenosis occurs in your lower back.

The symptoms of spinal stenosis can vary due to the location and the nerves affected. Numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness are common symptoms in your limbs and extremities. With cervical stenosis, you might also experience problems with balance and walking.

How are back and neck pain treated?

Dr. Gonzales offers a variety of noninvasive and interventional pain management solutions to provide lasting relief for your back and neck pain. Depending on the cause of your pain, he might recommend medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

For more severe chronic pain in the lower back and neck -- especially when associated with arthritis and pinched nerves -- Dr. Gonzales provides radiofrequency ablation and facet joint injections.

Radiofrequency ablation

Rhizotomy, or radiofrequency ablation, is a nonsurgical procedure that relieves pain by using heat. During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Gonzales uses radiofrequency heat to ablate the nerve responsible for your pain. When a nerve is treated in this manner, pain signals are no longer transmitted to the brain.

Facet joint injections

Facet joints are located at each segment of your spine. These small joints guide motion and provide stability. Dr. Gonzales uses cervical, thoracic, or lumbar facet joint injections to anesthetize these facet joints in the neck or back to block pain.

This minimally-invasive technique not only helps diagnose the source of your pain, but it also provides pain relief. It’s typically administered using a fluoroscopy, or live X-ray, for more precise medication delivery.

Call the office or schedule an appointment online to learn more about the back and neck pain treatments offered at Texas Clinic Pain & Spine.