Low Back Pain

Low back pain is the number one cause of disability in this country. 85% of all people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Fifty to eighty billion dollars is spent on “back pain” a year. That is more than many countries gross national product!

Traditionally, back pain patients are referred to orthopedic surgeons for evaluation. Surgeons, however, are trained how to do surgery. If they see a mechanical problem they want to operate to fix it. That is what they are trained to do and that is what they do. They are not trained in how to avoid surgery.

But pain is not always mechanical. Everyone has some disc bulging. Most patients have some pinched nerve component. Everyone, however, also has an inflammatory component and muscle spasm/trigger-point component. Surgery does not address these causes for your pain. If this is a major cause of your pain, then you are not going to respond well to surgery.

Our Customized Solution

As a Physiatrist, I am trained the other way around. I am trained to look at the same problem and find a non-surgical approach. Inflammation and muscle spasm can be managed without surgery. We can even improve disc and nerve problems as well.

The proper medication, injections, and therapy will always improve your condition. The question becomes, is it enough? I am proud to report that the vast majority of our patients do great and avoid surgery. Once you fail surgery, there is little else to try. If you fail rehabilitation, you can always have surgery.

Our multi-disciplined rehabilitation team includes licensed Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, exercise trainers and myself. We have a private health club so that we can not only improve your pain and dysfunction but teach you how to exercise properly and prevent relapses. We can help if you give us a try.