Back pain is one of the most common reasons people call out sick from work and see their doctor. In most people, back pain resolves within a few weeks. However, some people have chronic back pain that affects their quality of life. Ajay Kumar, MD, is an interventional spine and pain physician at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center who specializes in the treatment of back pain. He offers many innovative therapies, including spinal cord stimulation, to help you get relief. Call the closest office in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, or Middletown, New York or book an appointment online today.
Back pain is a common pain complaint that affects millions of people every year. The severity of pain varies, ranging from a dull ache to severely debilitating pain. Back pain may be acute or chronic.
You may develop acute back pain after an unexpected injury. This type of pain usually resolves within a few days or a few weeks once the underlying injury heals.
Chronic back pain is pain that lasts three or more months. About 20% of acute back pain conditions turn into chronic back pain.
If you have back pain, Dr. Kumar can help. He takes a conservative approach to care and offers many innovative treatments to help you get long-term relief.
In most cases, back pain develops from a problem that affects the normal structure or function of the back or spine. Some of the more common causes of back pain include:
Though not as common, back pain may also develop from non-back-related problems, such as kidney stones or fibromyalgia.
When you visit New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center for help with back pain, you can expect a comprehensive exam. Dr. Kumar reviews your symptoms, including when they started and the type of pain you feel.
He asks about your medical history and performs a physical exam. To confirm or rule out a diagnosis to explain your back pain, Dr. Kumar requests diagnostic tests, such as blood work, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
Dr. Kumar develops individualized treatment plans for back pain based on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Treatment may include:
When conservative measures fail to provide relief from your back pain, Dr. Kumar may recommend minimally invasive spine procedures, such as a discectomy or decompression.
Spinal cord stimulation is a device that delivers mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord to alleviate pain. Dr. Kumar may recommend spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic back pain when conservative or surgical treatments fail to provide sufficient pain relief.
Spinal cord stimulation may reduce pain, improve quality of life, and decrease reliance on pain medication.
Call New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, or book an appointment online today to discuss treatment options for your back pain.