It’s often not until you hurt your back that you realize how much you use it in everyday life. If you’re experiencing back pain and want an effective solution, Dr. Barry F. Faust, Jr. can help. At his practice, Faust Interventional Pain in Metairie, Louisiana, Dr. Faust offers an extensive range of therapies for back pain, including advanced interventions such as epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation. To find out how he can help you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Faust using the online booking form, or call his office today to arrange an appointment. The practice serves patients throughout New Orleans, Slidell, Metairie, and the surrounding areas.
(504) 350-8700
Faust Interventional Pain
Barry F. Faust Jr., MD
Interventional Pain Medicine located in Metairie, LA
Back Pain Q & A
What is back pain?
Back pain could refer to any form of discomfort originating in your spine, which extends from the top of your neck to your pelvis. Neck pain in your cervical spine, upper back pain in your thoracic spine, and lower back pain in your lumbar spine often have similar causes and symptoms.
In addition to back pain, spinal damage and disease frequently cause problems such as numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, burning sensations, and headaches. This is due to nerve compression, which is known as radiculopathy.
Although a mild muscle strain in your back is likely to resolve itself in a few days, many other causes of back pain can be severe, disabling, and persistent, having a devastating effect on your mobility and overall well-being.
What can cause back pain?
One common cause of back pain is an acute injury, where the muscles, connective tissues, bones, or discs suffer sudden damage. This is often a result of sports and other activities, auto accidents, and falls, but you could also injure your back simply by moving awkwardly or lifting a heavy object.
Chronic conditions that cause back pain include:
- Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy)
- Osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures
- Spinal stenosis
- Bulging or herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Scoliosis
Scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, doesn’t always cause pain unless the curve is extreme. The other conditions in this list are typically a result of aging and years of wear and tear on your spine.
What treatments help with back pain?
Dr. Faust offers a wide range of treatments for back pain, choosing the least invasive methods for your initial treatment plan.
For many patients, a combination of physical therapy, avoiding activities that could make the condition worse, and using anti-inflammatory pain relief can be highly effective. Hot and cold treatments and passive therapies such as massage, ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can also be invaluable.
If these measures don’t relieve your symptoms, Dr. Faust might recommend further interventional pain treatments.
What interventional treatments might I need for back pain?
Some of the wide range of interventional back pain treatments Dr. Faust offers include:
- Interlaminar steroid injections
- Transforaminal steroid injections
- Caudal steroid injections
- Facet joint therapy
- Medial branch nerve blocks
- Sacroiliac joint therapy
- Radiofrequency neurotomy
- Lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks
- Trigger point injection therapy
- Spinal cord stimulation
Using these innovative back pain treatments can ease your symptoms and minimize your need for potentially addictive opioid pain medicines.
If your back pain is severe or goes on for more than a few days, get an expert diagnosis and treatments that work by calling Faust Interventional Pain, or book an appointment online today.