Our Services / Back Pain

Back pain doesn't wait for your retirement years. The latest estimates show that back pain affects up to 24% of teens and 40% of adults younger than 44. If you struggle with back pain, Jacob Katz, MD, at Katz Medical Group can help. Dr. Katz offers exceptional nonsurgical treatments that ease your pain, restore mobility, and get you back into action. To schedule an appointment, call our office, or use the online booking feature today.

What causes back pain?

Back pain often begins following a sports injury or when you pull a muscle during your normal daily activities. Overuse injuries also frequently cause back pain. These injuries develop over time as you repeat the same movements and the ongoing stress causes small tears in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

As you get older, your back pain most likely comes from degenerative changes that cause conditions such as:

• Facet joint arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
• Degenerative disc disease

Any type of injury or degenerative condition can pinch the nearby nerves, adding another level of symptoms to your localized back pain.

What symptoms accompany back pain?

Everyone experiences back pain a little differently. You may have a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing type of pain. Your pain may be constant, come and go, or appear when you make certain movements.

The pain alone or together with the underlying condition causing the pain usually limits spinal movement. You may also have painful muscle knots or spasms.

Pinched nerves cause symptoms like pain, tingling, and burning sensations that travel down one or both legs. In severe cases, nerve damage results in leg numbness and muscle weakness.

How is back pain diagnosed and treated?

Dr. Katz completes a comprehensive evaluation, which includes reviewing your medical history, learning about the type of pain and other symptoms, and performing a physical exam. Depending on the results of your exam, you may need diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan.

After identifying the cause of your back pain, Dr. Katz takes the time to explain the condition and all your treatment options. Then he works with you to develop a treatment plan that draws from many possible therapeutic options, that are indicated for you,  may include:

• Activity modification
• Therapeutic massage
• Home exercise regimen
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Trigger point injections
• Joint injections
• Customized back brace

Most patients find that their back pain improves with conservative treatments. But if your pain doesn't get better, Dr. Katz can help guide you through possible interventional procedures to repair the underlying condition.

When needed, he refers you to a trusted spine specialist but continues to follow your treatment and serve as your primary care provider.

Getting early treatment for back pain lowers the risk of developing a chronic problem. To schedule an appointment, call Katz Medical Group or use the online booking feature today.