Back & Neck Pain

Relief for Back Pain Sufferers

Back pain is one of the most common and costly ailments in American society. Over 80% of Americans will experience back pain sometime during their lives. The costs – lost time from work, insurance payments, medical treatment and disability – are over $50 billion annually.

There are many causes of back pain. No matter what the cause is, your back muscles will form trigger points (hard, painful knots). This can cause persistent back pain even after the original cause of the pain has been resolved.

Trigger points are constantly tightened areas within the muscle. There may be pain within that muscle, in the muscle tendon, at the joint where the muscle attaches to the bone and at the bursa where the tendon crosses over the joint. It may also cause pain far from the trigger point.

In many cases, the pain location may not be the actual trigger point. Frequently, one trigger point will induce pain in several different areas of the body. Trigger points arise from:

LOW BACK PAIN – Low back pain can result from herniated discs, arthritis, spinal stenosis and other causes. Any cause of low back pain can induce trigger point formation in the muscles of the back, which then aggravate and prolong the back pain. Although treating the trigger points does not cure the underlying problem, it can reduce pain and improve mobility. If back pain develops after a fall, trigger points may be the only source of pain. Successful treatment could dramatically reduce or eliminate your pain.

SCIATICA – Sciatica is pain in the buttock or down the back of the leg caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. It also has many causes. One cause is pressure on the nerve from nearby muscles that are tight due to trigger points.

FAILED BACK SURGERY – Many people get unsatisfactory or only temporary relief of their back pain from surgery. Muscular trigger points may have developed before or after the surgery and become a significant source of pain. This is also called post-laminectomy syndrome.

PYRIFORMIS (OR PIRIFORMIS) SYNDROME – The pyriformis muscle may develop trigger points after injury or overuse, with pain in one or both buttocks. The tight muscle may also pinch the nearby sciatic nerve, causing sciatica pain or numbness down the back of the leg.

NECK PAIN – Neck pain can be caused by any number of things – arthritis, ankylosing and cervical spondylitis (arthritis of the spine), degenerative disc disease and other disc problems, whiplash injuries (often caused by auto accidents) and other types of trauma.

The physicians and therapists at Pain Therapy Associates understand your pain. They will work with you to find and eliminate the cause. In the process, you will learn healthier postures and movement patterns that reduce or eliminate your back pain and allow you to function more fully again.

Instead of living with your back or neck pain, talk to Pain Therapy Associates about the best treatment for your personal needs. We’re committed to helping you overcome the pain and regain your life.

We also encourage and welcome your referrals.

For more information about our proven back and neck pain therapies or to schedule an  appointment, please call our pain management specialists in Schaumberg and Chicago at 847-352-5511 or use our online appointment request form today!