Approximately 80% of Americans experience some back pain during the course of their lives, and it’s the leading driver behind missed work days in the United States. While there may be some solace in these numbers, if you’re experiencing pain that’s limiting your life in significant ways, it’s time to get treatment. At Chandler Neurology and Sleep Disorders Associates, PC, Dr. Mohammad Khan helps his patients in the Chandler, Arizona, area find relief from back pain, getting them up and moving freely again. To explore your options, call or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.

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What is the anatomy of the back?

To better understand back pain, it’s helpful to step back and quickly review the anatomy of the human back. At the core of your back is your spine, which is made up of 33 vertebrae that are divided into four sections:

  • Your neck, or cervical spine
  • Your midback, or thoracic spine
  • Your low back, or lumbar spine
  • Your sacral region

Surrounding your spine are a host of secondary players, including discs, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While your spine provides the foundational support for your entire body, it also provides passage for your nervous system. This means there are numerous nerve roots along your spine, which are largely responsible for your back pain.

What causes back pain?

There are dozens of conditions that cause back and neck pain, but the most common culprits are:

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Strains or sprains
  • Herniated or ruptured discs
  • Radiculopathy, which includes sciatica
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Skeletal irregularities

If you’re suffering from radiculopathy, which means that a nerve root is compressed or injured, your symptoms often radiate through your extremities. An example of this is sciatica, which occurs when a nerve root in your low back is irritated or compressed, causing numbness or pain down one of your legs.

How do you treat back pain?

Given the number of different causes of back and neck pain, there’s no blanket answer to this question. When you see Dr. Khan, he reviews your symptoms and your medical history and then moves on to an extensive evaluation of your problem. Using advanced imaging and diagnostic testing, Dr. Khan is able to locate the source of your pain, which determines the treatment plan.

Dr. Khan’s primary objective is to relieve your pain by addressing the underlying cause using the latest cutting-edge treatments. Rather than just treating the symptoms, Dr. Khan takes a broad view of your problem in order to achieve long-lasting results. These treatments may include:

  • Medications
  • Physical therapy
  • Spinal adjustments
  • Electrical nerve stimulation
  • Nerve blocks
  • Steroid injections

If you’re suffering from back or neck pain, call Chandler Neurology and Sleep Disorders Associates, PC, or request an appointment by filling out the online form.