Back pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care. It often starts as a minor annoyance after a long day or a tough workout. When it lasts for weeks or months, interferes with sleep or starts to spread into the legs, it is time to get it checked. Understanding what causes back pain, and when to see a specialist, is a good first step.
What causes chronic back pain?
Acute back pain, the kind that comes on suddenly after lifting something heavy or sleeping in an awkward position, often improves on its own within a few weeks. Chronic back pain is different. It lasts three months or longer and often has an underlying structural or nerve-related cause.
Common causes include:
- Herniated or bulging discs. The soft cushion between spinal bones pushes out and presses on nearby nerves.
- Degenerative disc disease. The discs that cushion the spine gradually wear down, which is common with age.
- Spinal stenosis. The spinal canal narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
- Facet joint arthritis. The small joints along the spine become inflamed and wear down.
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Pain comes from the joint that connects the spine to the pelvis.
- Muscle and soft tissue injuries. Strains, spasms and myofascial pain can become chronic.
When should you see a pain management specialist?
Your primary care physician is often the first stop for back pain, and that is appropriate for early symptoms. It may be time to see a board-certified pain management specialist if:
- Your pain has lasted more than 6 to 8 weeks without improvement.
- Pain spreads from your back into your buttocks, legs or feet.
- You have numbness, tingling or weakness in your legs.
- Over-the-counter medicines no longer give enough relief.
- Your pain disrupts your sleep, work or daily activities.
- An MRI or X-ray has shown a structural cause.
If any of these apply to you, a pain management evaluation is a reasonable next step. Seek urgent care right away if back pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, severe or worsening leg weakness, or numbness in the groin area.
How we treat back pain
Our practice takes a diagnosis-first approach. Before recommending a procedure, your provider reviews your medical history, imaging and symptom pattern to look for the source of your pain. Treatment is then built around that diagnosis. This article explains causes and when to get help. For details on how care works, see our back pain treatment page.
Depending on the cause, options may include:
- Epidural steroid injections, which aim to reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves
- Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks for pain from arthritic spinal joints
- Radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to interrupt pain signals from certain spinal joints
- Sacroiliac joint injections for pain that comes from the SI joint
- Spinal cord stimulation for chronic back pain that has not responded to other treatments
- Medication management for monitored pain control
Many procedures are done in the office and are performed by our board-certified pain medicine physician. Your provider will explain what to expect and how to prepare for the one that fits your situation. Our providers see patients from Frisco and nearby communities.
Talk to our Frisco team
If you have been living with back pain, our Frisco team can help you understand what is causing it and what your options are. Read about our back pain care, then book an appointment or call 214-618-9600.