Choosing a Low Back Pain Doctor: Why You Need a Pain Management Specialist

Nearly 10% of people around the world deal with low back pain in a given year. Once such pain sets in, your symptoms can make everything from driving and exercising to sleeping well and socializing difficult.

Chronic low back pain, or pain that persists or continually flares up for several months or longer, can even lead to permanent disability and mobility problems. Working with a qualified expert can help ensure that doesn’t happen.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, customizes back pain treatment to help you lead a fuller, more comfortable life.

Take a few minutes to learn more about low back pain, including how helpful the right expert can be.

How low back pain shows up

Low back pain can vary quite a bit, as far as symptom specifics. Your symptoms could start out mild and gradually intensify over time, for example, or begin acutely and severely.

Chronic pain in your lower back may ease at times, only to flare up repeatedly, or it can stay fairly constant. Low back pain shows up in various ways, such as a dull ache, throbbing pangs, or pain that radiates elsewhere or worsens during certain activities.

You may experience related symptoms, too, such as back stiffness, muscle spasms, or difficulty moving around like you used to. As well, your posture may shift to appear somewhat bent or crooked.

Causes of low back pain

Most anything that damages or strains the bones, ligaments, muscles, or nerves in your lower back can lead to low back pain. Anyone can develop it, but wear-and-tear and the aging process make it increasingly likely after age 30.

Common low back pain causes we treat include:

Arthritis
Bulging or ruptured discs
Osteoporosis
Scoliosis
Spinal fractures
Spinal stenosis
Sprained ligaments
Strained muscles or tendons

Less common causes include spinal infections, spinal tumors, and ankylosing spondylitis.

When to see a pain management specialist

While many medical professionals address low back pain, working with a back pain specialist is generally ideal if your pain is perplexing, long-lasting, or severe. The same goes for back pain that doesn’t diminish with conservative care, like rest and over-the-counter-pain medication.

Benefits a pain management specialist can bring include:

Added expertise and experience
Ability to treat rare and complex conditions
Greater access to a range of advanced treatments
Better outcomes

Depending on the specifics of your condition, Dr. Kang may recommend a minimally invasive treatment, such as epidural injections, guided exercises, or physical therapy. Treatment for any underlying condition can go far, too.

We can also guide you through lifestyle steps for minimizing low back pain, such as using an ergonomic device and quitting smoking. Spinal surgery is reserved for severe and treatment-resistant back pain.

To get started with customized low back pain care from a specialist, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.