Neck & Back Pain Specialist
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Innovative Pain and Spine Center
Board Certified in Pain Management & Physical Medicine located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Chronic neck and back pain have the well-deserved reputation of being hard to treat with conservative medical care. If your days are spent struggling with spine-related pain, it’s time to consider seeing physical medicine and pain medicine specialist Matthew Root, DO, at Innovative Pain and Spine Center in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Dr. Root offers numerous physical, interventional, and regenerative therapies that have helped his patients overcome their pain and live a more active life. To schedule an appointment, call the Toluca Lake office or book an appointment online.
Neck & Back Pain Q & A
What causes neck and back pain?
Neck and back pain often occurs due to sprains, strains, and repetitive movements that lead to overuse injuries. Poor posture, tech neck, and whiplash injuries are also some of the top causes of neck pain.
As you get older, however, your neck and back pain are more likely to be caused by degenerative changes. Some of the most common age-related back conditions include:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint arthritis
- Thickened ligaments
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs
These problems cause mild-to-severe pain as they compress and damage spinal nerves.
What other symptoms may accompany neck and back pain?
Neck pain commonly limits your head movement. With or without limited movement, you may develop a serious headache.
Compressed nerves in any part of your spine cause tingling and pain that may follow the nerve and radiate down your arm or leg, depending on whether the pinched nerve is in your neck or lower back.
In severe cases, a pinched nerve can lead to numbness or muscle weakness in the affected arm or leg.
How are neck and back pain treated?
After a thorough exam and diagnostic imaging, if needed, Dr. Root typically begins treatment with physical therapy and manual therapies designed to relieve your pain, improve movement, and strengthen the muscles supporting your spine.
If your pain continues or you need pain relief so you can comfortably participate in physical therapy, Dr. Root may recommend one of the following options:
Nerve root block
Dr. Root injects a local anesthetic and steroid at the nerve root, which is where a bundle of nerves leaves the spinal cord. The anesthetic blocks the nerves that are sending pain messages to your brain and the steroid reduces painful inflammation.
Epidural injection
Injecting an anesthetic and steroid medication into the epidural space along the spine relieves pain by reducing inflammation.
Spinal cord stimulation
Dr. Root inserts electrodes along the nerves in your spine. As the electrodes send out a mild electrical impulse, they block or scramble nerve signals so your brain can’t perceive the pain.
Radiofrequency ablation
After performing diagnostic tests to determine the exact nerve causing your pain, Dr. Root uses radiofrequency energy to create a wound on the nerve. The wound effectively blocks pain signals, relieving your pain for nine months to two years.
Regenerative medicine
Platelets and stem cells are your body’s natural healing agents. When Dr. Root injects platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and/or bone marrow aspirate stem cell concentrate (BMAC), they accelerate healing, regenerate new tissue growth, and regulate inflammation.
Minimally invasive surgery
When your back pain is caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, Dr. Root may recommend minimally invasive surgery to implant the Vertiflex® Superion® Indirect Decompression System. This expandable device gently separates two adjacent vertebrae which alleviates your pain by decompressing the nerves.
Relief from neck and back pain is possible with treatment at Innovative Pain and Spine Center. Don’t wait to get help. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
