Stop Masking the Pain: Advanced Minimally Invasive Treatments for Lasting Back Relief

Back pain is one of the leading reasons people seek ‌medical attention, and it’s a major cause of disability in the United States. Four out of five people will experience low back pain during their lives, while at any point in time, some 26% of US adults develop low back pain (lumbar spine), and 14% have neck pain (cervical spine).

Back pain can result from muscle strain, a ligament sprain, a spinal disorder, nerve impingement, or a condition that affects the pelvic or abdominal organs. Its intensity can range from mild to severe, and it may travel from the back into the limbs, especially the legs. When it radiates into the lower limbs, it’s called sciatica.

At Interventional Pain Center in Norman, Oklahoma, anesthesiologist and fellowship-trained interventional pain medicine physician James Stephens, DO, and pain specialist Tyler Phillips, MD, understand how uncomfortable and debilitating back pain can be, so they offer advanced, minimally invasive treatments to help.

If you’re experiencing back pain and are looking for relief, here’s what you need to know about the options available to you.

What causes chronic back pain?

Many factors can cause back pain. If the pain is short-lived, perhaps from an injury, it’s called acute. If the pain lasts three months or longer, it’s termed chronic. Some causes of chronic pain include:

Arthritis

Arthritis affects the small facet joints that connect your vertebrae and form the spinal column. The most common form is osteoarthritis, which results from a lifetime of wear and tear.

Degenerative disc disease

As you get older, the intervertebral discs that absorb the shock of movement and prevent the vertebrae from rubbing against each other ‌lose moisture and flatten out. This leads to bone-on-bone friction, inflammation, and intermittent pain.

Herniated disc

If the hard outer shell of an intervertebral disc cracks, the gel-like inner material can spill out, pressing on nearby nerves or nerve roots. This can cause sharp, stabbing pain that radiates into the limbs.

Sacroiliitis

Inflammation of the sacroiliac (SI) joint at the base of your spine leads to lower back pain that can spread into your buttocks, hips, and/or thighs.

Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)

Spinal stenosis restricts the space around the nerves, “pinching” them. This can lead to lower back pain, sciatica, and pain that worsens with long periods of standing or walking.

Vertebral compression fractures

Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease that can cause vertebrae to compress and fracture spontaneously, causing significant pain, stiffness, and other problems. Dr. Stephens can address the fracture and pain with kyphoplasty, but you’ll also need treatment for the problem itself. We can refer you to a rheumatologist.

Advanced minimally invasive treatments for chronic back pain

Dr. Stephens is a leader in SI fusion, kyphoplasty, and Vertiflex™ procedures.

With SI fusion, the doctor fuses the sacrum and ilium bones, stabilizing the joint and preventing movement. This reduced movement helps ease pain and prevents it from radiating to other areas of the body.

As we’ve mentioned, kyphoplasty effectively repairs vertebral compression fractures. Dr. Stephens inflates a balloon inside the collapsed vertebra and injects it with ‌surgical cement, restoring the bone’s original height. Pain relief is almost instant in most cases.

Vertiflex is a minimally invasive procedure used in cases of spinal stenosis. The doctor inserts a spacer between the narrowed vertebrae to widen the spinal canal and prevent pinched nerves. The spacer comes in a variety of sizes to fit different anatomies, and the procedure is reversible.

If you’re dealing with chronic pain and aren’t getting the relief you need with conservative treatments, consider choosing an advanced minimally invasive option. To learn more, call the office at 405-759-8407, or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephens or Dr. Phillips today.