Lower back pain affects 80% of adults during their lifetime. For many, an acute episode turns into an ongoing, debilitating problem. At Edward C. Murphy, MD, PA, you have access to exceptional lower back care provided by neurological surgeon Edward C. Murphy, MD, and chiropractor Bogar Ventura, DC. They develop customized treatment using the medical and manual care needed for your individual back problem. To schedule an appointment, call one of the offices in Houston and Pasadena, Texas, or use the online booking feature.
Your lower spine, or lumbar spine, supports the full weight of your body while allowing a full range of motion, a combination that often leads to lower back pain.
Sprains and strains are one of the top causes of acute lower back pain. Over time, however, lower back pain often develops from tissue degeneration.
The most common causes of chronic lower back pain are degenerative conditions such as:
You have a higher risk of developing lower back pain if you spend a lot of time sitting or you’re overweight because these factors add extra pressure to the lumbar spine.
Radiculopathy is a condition in which your nerves are inflamed and irritated, typically because they’re compressed. Most chronic lower back problems caused by degenerative conditions bring severe pain because they pinch nerves.
When compressed nerves cause your lower back pain, you may also experience tingling and numbness along the affected nerve, wherever it goes through your body. In some cases, you can also develop muscle weakness.
At your first appointment, you have a thorough medical exam, possibly including neurological testing and diagnostic imaging to accurately determine the cause of your lower back pain.
Optimal treatment of lower back pain takes a two-pronged approach, beginning with conservative manual therapies, and then exploring medical options if the pain persists.
At Edward C. Murphy, MD, you have access to the full range of treatment with care from two doctors, a chiropractor and a neurologist:
Dr. Ventura develops individualized care that could include techniques such as spinal adjustments, myofascial therapy, and soft tissue mobilization.
Medical care begins with conservative options like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants. Depending on the severity of your lower back pain, you may take medications along with your chiropractic treatment.
When conservative treatments don’t provide enough pain relief, Dr. Murphy may recommend an epidural steroid injection, facet joint injection, or sacroiliac joint injection. The final treatment considered is spine surgery to repair the underlying problem.
Dr. Murphy has extensive experience performing minimally invasive procedures such as spinal decompression, disc replacement, discectomy, and spinal fusion.
If you need relief from acute or chronic lower back pain, call Edward C. Murphy, MD, or schedule an appointment online.
