Lower Back Pain

If you’re one of the 31 million Americans who are dealing with lower back pain right now, finding solutions becomes the top priority. At Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine, with locations in Old Bridge, Jersey City, and South Plainfield, New Jersey, interventional pain and sports medicine physician Shady Hassan, MD, is a lower back pain expert. Find out how Dr. Hassan can help by calling the office nearest you or clicking on the appointment link now.

Lower back pain usually involves a problem within your lumbar spine, the final segment of the spinal column. Many different problems can occur in this area, including:

Bulging disc

A bulging disc is a spinal disc that weakens in one or more areas. It can push out, extending enough that it pressures the nerve roots to cause serious lower back pain.

Herniated disc

A herniated disc is a spinal disc with a crack in its exterior, which allows its gel-like contents to leak out. This disc material can then irritate your nerve roots and cause severe lower back pain.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a kind of pain that occurs with sciatic nerve compression in your lumbar spine. Generally, with sciatica the pain radiates from your lower back down one leg.

Lumbar disc degeneration

Lumbar disc degeneration can develop over many years, usually due to ordinary wear-and-tear. When a disc wears down significantly, your vertebrae can grind together to cause lower back pain.

Injury

Injuries, such as sports injuries, falls, and auto accidents, can damage the soft tissues and bones in your spine to cause lower back pain. Common injuries include sprains, strains, and fractures.

There are many other causes of lower back pain as well, including spinal narrowing (stenosis), osteoarthritis, compression fractures, spinal deformities, and osteoporosis.

When do I need medical care for lower back pain?

Lower back pain that goes on continuously for a couple of weeks or longer generally requires more than rest, over-the-counter medication, ice, and moist heat. If you've tried those things and don't feel any better, or if you're suffering from severe lower back pain, it's time to find a solution at Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine.

For any kind of major spinal trauma that leads to lower back pain, such as a sports injury or a slip-and-fall accident, book an appointment immediately.

How is lower back pain treated?

Dr. Hassan performs a comprehensive medical assessment, including a physical exam and imaging tests, to find out what caused your back pain. He focuses on nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments, such as:

• Epidural injections

• Facet joint injections

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Intradiscal steroid injections

• Sacroiliac (SI) joint injection

• Peripheral joint injections

• Regenerative medicine: Stem cell or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

For chronic back pain, particularly pain that occurs because of spinal damage, you may need a minimally invasive surgical procedure such as lumbar spinal decompression or kyphoplasty. Dr. Hassan performs surgery using high-tech protocols, allowing for minimal tissue damage and the most rapid healing.

Dr. Hassan usually recommends a comprehensive treatment plan, one that includes physical therapy and other conservative care to help you recover.

Hassan Spine & Sports Medicine wants to help you leave lower back pain behind forever. Call the office nearest you or click on the online appointment scheduler now.