Back pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care. It can come from muscles and ligaments, spinal joints, discs, or the nerves themselves, and it becomes chronic when it lasts three months or more.
Age, genetics, fitness level, occupational strain, and prior injuries all play a role, but anyone can develop lasting back pain. The encouraging news is that the large majority of chronic back pain can be treated without surgery.
Common symptoms
- An ache that’s been around for months, not days
- Stiffness that’s worse first thing in the morning
- Pain that limits sitting, standing, or lifting
- Discomfort that’s started shaping daily plans
How interventional pain physicians treat it
Interventional pain physicians typically work to identify the specific pain generator, whether joint, disc, nerve, or muscle, and treat it directly rather than only masking symptoms. Care may include:
- Physical therapy
- Epidural steroid injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Minimally invasive spine procedures
Treatment is always determined by a physician based on individual evaluation. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
When is back pain a reason to see a specialist?
Pain that lasts beyond six weeks, keeps returning, radiates into a leg, or limits work and sleep is worth a specialist evaluation. Numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control warrant urgent care.
Do I need an MRI first?
Not always. A detailed history and exam guide most initial treatment. Imaging is typically ordered when symptoms suggest nerve involvement, when pain persists despite treatment, or before a planned procedure.
Can chronic back pain improve without surgery?
In most cases, yes. Targeted injections, radiofrequency treatments, physical therapy, and other non-surgical options resolve or substantially reduce most chronic back pain. Surgery is generally a last resort.
Independent, physician-owned practices in the DxTx network provide this kind of care across 11 states. One call connects you to the practice closest to you.