Back Pain

Up to 16 million Americans suffer from chronic back pain. If you’re one of them, consider interventional pain management. At Greenwich Pain & Spine in Greenwich, Connecticut, board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain management specialist Christian Whitney, DO, provides minimally invasive treatments for back pain, including pain management injections, spinal cord stimulation, and radiofrequency ablation. Call Greenwich Pain & Spine to schedule back pain treatment, or book your appointment online today.

Is back pain something to worry about?

Not necessarily. Everyone experiences back pain at one time or another. But if it continues for more than two weeks and doesn’t improve with at-home care, identifying the cause is essential. Many causes of back pain get worse over time, but treatment helps slow its progression.

What causes back pain?

At Greenwich Pain & Spine, Dr. Whitney treats back pain caused by:

• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Herniated discs
• Facet joint syndrome
• Degenerative conditions, like kyphosis and scoliosis
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Strains and strains
• Sports injuries
• Work injuries

Sometimes, lifestyle choices cause back pain, including poor posture, lack of exercise, and physically demanding work.

How does an interventional pain management specialist diagnose back pain?

Dr. Whitney asks about your symptoms, including where the pain is, what it feels like, and if it radiates into other areas. He examines your back, checking your skin for bruising and redness, and gently presses on the affected area to identify sensitive spots.

Dr. Whitney has you rate your pain on a scale and asks you to complete simple movements like sitting, walking, and squatting. He also orders diagnostic testing, like X-rays, CT scans, or an MRI.

How does an interventional pain specialist treat back pain?

At Greenwich Pain & Spine, Dr. Whitney takes a conservative, minimally invasive approach to treating back pain. Depending on your symptoms and their severity, he might suggest:

• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
• Trigger point injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Facet joint injections
• Massage
• Acupuncture
• Ketamine infusions 

Most people benefit from two or more treatments and healthy lifestyle changes. Dr. Whitney monitors your progress with regular checkups and makes adjustments as needed.

How long does back pain last?

How long back pain lasts depends on various things, including its cause and severity and your lifestyle. For example, if you have back pain after surgery, spinal cord stimulation might speed up your recovery. Alternatively, back pain caused by arthritis often requires lifelong treatment.

In most cases, Dr. Whitney reduces back pain within the first two to four weeks of treatment, but no two people are alike.*

Call Greenwich Pain & Spine to schedule a back pain appointment, or book your visit online today.

*Results may vary.