TL;DR
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a pain specialist, and most cases improve without surgery. A physician-led evaluation finds what is actually driving your pain so the treatment matches the cause.
- Most lower back pain is treated without surgery, using physical therapy, targeted injections, and advanced non-surgical modalities.
- See a doctor if the pain lasts more than a few weeks, radiates down your leg, or comes with numbness or weakness.
- The right treatment depends on the cause, so an assessment comes first.
- Lower back pain is treated at clinics across Brooklyn, the Five Towns, and Monsey, and many insurance plans including Medicaid managed care are widely accepted.
Lower back pain has a way of taking over your day. It makes sitting, standing, lifting, and sleeping harder, and for many people it keeps coming back. The good news is that the large majority of lower back pain is treated without surgery, and often without long-term medication.
What causes lower back pain?
Lower back pain usually comes from one of a few sources: strained muscles, irritated or bulging discs, a compressed nerve, or wear in the small joints of the spine. Sometimes more than one is involved. Because the causes are different, the treatment that works for one is not the same as the treatment that works for another. There is more detail on this lower back pain page.
When should you see a doctor for lower back pain?
It is worth getting evaluated if your pain has lasted more than a few weeks, if it travels down into your buttock or leg, or if it comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness. Pain that follows a fall or injury, or that wakes you at night, also deserves a proper look. An evaluation rules out the serious causes and points to the right treatment.
How is lower back pain treated without surgery?
Most patients get better with a non-surgical, drug-free plan. Depending on what is driving the pain, that can include physical therapy to build support and mobility, shockwave therapy for stubborn tissue, magnetic and other advanced modalities, and precise ultrasound-guided injections when a specific structure needs to be calmed down. If the pain radiates down the leg, it may be sciatica, which pain management practices also address.
What to expect at a first visit
At a physician-led practice, back pain is assessed by a doctor first. The likely source is identified, the options are explained in plain language, and treatment starts with the least invasive approach that fits the case. A good clinician will also say when something outside their scope would serve a patient better. That trade-off is examined in more detail in a comparison of invasive and non-invasive pain relief.
Do you accept my insurance?
Many pain management clinics in the area work with Medicaid managed care, Healthfirst, Fidelis Care, MetroPlus, and Medicare. Coverage varies by specific plan, so it is worth confirming with the clinic before a visit.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need surgery for lower back pain?
Most people do not. Surgery is usually a last resort, and non-surgical care resolves or greatly improves the majority of cases. An assessment tells you where you stand.
How long does non-surgical back pain treatment take?
It depends on the cause and how long the pain has been present. Many people feel meaningful improvement over a course of treatment. A clear plan usually comes after the evaluation, not before it.
Does lower back pain always need imaging before treatment?
No. For most cases without warning signs, examination guides the initial plan and a scan adds little. Imaging matters when there is nerve involvement, a significant injury, or a lack of progress. Scanning early often reveals age-related changes that do not explain the symptoms.
Is lower back pain more common in people who sit or in people who lift?
Both patterns are common, for different reasons. Prolonged sitting loads the discs and reduces muscular support, while repeated lifting loads the same structures through higher peak forces. Sudden increases in either, rather than the activity itself, are most often what triggers a flare.
Take the next step on your back pain
You do not have to keep working around your back. If lower back pain has been holding on, a non-surgical assessment is the place to start.
Ready to get real relief?
Our physician-led team assesses your back pain and builds a non-surgical, drug-free plan that fits you.
Serving Brooklyn, the Five Towns, and Monsey.
