Low back pain that does not radiate down the leg is commonly due to a sprain of the ligaments in the spinal column, muscle tension, or is due to wear and tear of the spine and discs between the spinal vertebrae. Spinal wear and tear can cause thinning of the rubbery discs that pad the vertebral bones, lead to disc herniations, or cause joint damage in the areas where the vertebral bones connect to each other. Damage in the spine can often cause the surrounding lumbar and buttock muscles to go into spasm, increasing your back pain. 

If you have back pain with leg numbness or radiating pain going down your leg, you may have a "pinched nerve".  Doctors call this type of pain "Radicular Pain." This means that something is pushing on one of the nerves that controls part of your leg. Usually this occurs just after the nerve leaves the spinal chord, and either a piece of bone or a portion of the intervertebral disc is putting pressure on the nerve.  The most common type of radicular pain is 'sciatica', which is pain going down the back of the leg. An MRI or CT Scan can help doctors pin down the cause. It is important to see a back pain expert as early as you can if you have pain going down the leg, or leg numbness, as early intervention is more successful than if you wait.  

Nerve damage from many sources can cause sharp, radiating pain. Learn more about pain treatment for these and other chronic pain conditions below. 

•  ​​Learn about anti-convulsant medicines for sharp pain
• Anti-depressants can help reduce sharp pain
• Diabetic Nerve pain diagnosis and treatments
  
• Electrical Stimulation can block chronic pain. 
• What is Referred Pain?
  
• Shingles and Post Herpetic Neuralgia
  

Newport Pain Management low back pain treatment focuses on you, and getting you better.

Dr. Scott has the experience you need to get low back pain relief.  Dr. Scott is a back pain expert who will take the time to do a thorough history and physical exam, and review the results with you. He will lay out a comprehensive low back treatment plan to get you on the road to pain relief. Dr. Scott has expertise in back pain medications, epidural injections, nerve blocks, and other back therapy options. 

Low Back Pain

Epidural Block

Back pain relief

Dr. Scott  help provide back pain relief with an epidural steroid block. Epidural blocks are a type of injection where a powerful anti-inflammatory like cortisone is injected just outside the spinal canal to help reduce swelling around the pinched nerve that is causing you pain. Epidural steroid blocks are most effective at attacking pain radiating down the leg. Epidural blocks can also help you start a low back exercise or physical therapy program. 

Facet Block

Back pain on movement

For lower back pain, neck pain, or upper back pain due to arthritis, a pain doctor may recommend facet blocks. Arthritis of the spine is aggravated by twisting or bending backwards back movements causing the arthritic joints to rub on each other. Facet blocks are injections where an anti-inflammatory like cortisone is injected around these arthritic joints to provide pain relief. These injections do not cure the arthritis however, just relieve pain for a period of time, and allow you to move with less pain. At Newport Pain Management, we can determine the best injection therapy to get you on the fast track to pain relief. 

Neck and Back Info

Newport Pain Management

The information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with the Pain Doctor's at Newport Pain Management Medical Corp. or a qualified healthcare practitioner. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. 

Low Back Pain Relief

Back Pain Therapy

Spinal Stenosis

Shopping Cart Disease

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal cord itself is pinched, usually by degeneration of the discs and arthritis of the vertebrae. People with spinal stenosis may have little pain when sitting, but with walking, leg and back pain builds up. The leg pain and back pain usually gets better after resting for 10-15 minutes. Spinal stenosis has been called "Shopping Cart Disease" as people with spinal stenosis can walk much farther when pushing a shopping cart. 

Radiating Pain

Sacroiliac Block

Pain below the belt

The sacroiliac joint can be an overlooked source of dull low back pain in many individuals. The sacroiliac joint connects the pelvic bone to the base of the spine. Weight can and sedentary lifestyle can add greatly to stress on this joint. a sacroiliac block can reduce this form of low back pain. 

Trigger Points

Tight muscle areas

Injecting numbing medicine into small painful "knots" of muscle can be very helpful especially when combined with stretching exercises of the painful muscle group. 

Back Pain therapy consists of two major categories, invasive and noninvasive. Invasive therapy for back pain is surgery and injections (blocks).  Noninvasive back therapy consists of medications and the various physical therapy techniques. 

Newport Pain

Management

​

​

Back Exercises

Variety is key to low back pain treatment

Your back likes variety.  Too much sitting, standing or laying down is not healthy for the back. Low back pain in Americans has skyrocketed as our work has become more centered on use of the computer. Once you realize the harm all this sitting can do for your back, you now know what to do to stop it-periodically get up, walk, and stretch. If you already have back or neck pain, it is better to do stretches and walking in many small bits through out the day, than a big intense session once a day.  At Newport Pain Management, we recommend keeping an activity log. Over time, with consistent exercise, you will see your activity levels increase and your back pain go down. For low back pain relief, we recommend you do a variety of exercises including walking, swimming, biking, stretching, Yoga and Tai Chi.

  Stretching should be done consistently for back pain relief. Stretches can be done in bed, or more formally using Yoga or Tai Chi techniques. 

   Walking is a good treatment for low back pain. If you have low back pain already, start off slowly and gradually build up the speed and distance you walk. Taking long strides stretches the back more than short strides. An inexpensive pedometer or pedometer app for you phone can be helpful in tracking your activity levels over a day. 

  Swimming can provide low back pain relief as the water can relax your tight muscles and take weight off your back joints allowing you to get a good stretch and even an aerobic work out. Body boards and pool noodles can be very helpful.