Lower Back Pain
The lower back is one of the most important parts of the body, as it holds most of our body weight when we stand and is involved in the movement when we bend or twist at the waist. Because of its pivotal role and frequent use, it is susceptible to injury and chronic pain. Lower back pain is effects approximately 80%-85% of the population at one point in their lives and is one of the leading causes of disability. Lower back pain can be caused by poor lifting technique, overuse, and trauma. Symptoms associated with low back pain can include localized achy pain, sharp pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and referred pain going down the legs.
Proper treatment of lower back pain begins with a proper diagnosis which includes establishing which of the four main pain generating tissues of the spine is responsible for causing a patient’s pain. This can be accomplished through asking detailed questions about your condition and performing a thorough physical examination. In some instances, further testing may be ordered including X-ray, MRI, CT scan, DEXA scan, blood work or EMG/NCV studies so a proper diagnosis can be reached and more serious conditions can be ruled out .
At Imperial Pain Specialists , our skilled team of physicians and therapists specialize in creating a personalized treatment strategy with each individual patient’s goals and condition in mind. The overwhelming majority of low back pain can be successfully managed completely conservatively with physical therapy and chiropractic care with treatment including exercise, manual therapy, manipulation, modalities, mechanical traction, hot/cold, and advice on how to properly manage your condition while you are not with us in the office.
For the minority of patients who do not respond to conservative care we have other treatment options including pain management with our board certified physicians with treatment including trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet injections, Sacroiliac injections and radiofrequency ablations. Our DRX9000(C)™ has been proven effective in the treatment
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality non-surgical care for back pain in a warm, caring environment.
Lower Back Pain with Leg Symptoms
Pain in the lower back is often accompanied by pain going down the legs as a result of irritation to the nerve endings in the area. This is most commonly as a result of a disc herniation or spinal stenosis. When the nerve endings around the spine are either compressed or irritated by an inflammatory process it can cause referred pain going down the legs, numbness, tingling, or muscular weakness in the legs or feet. This type of pain is commonly referred to as sciatic pain, as it typically affects the sciatic nerve that runs from the end of spinal cord through the legs.
Proper treatment of lower back with leg pain begins with a proper diagnosis which includes establishing which of the four main pain generating tissues of the spine is responsible for causing a patient’s pain. This can be accomplished through asking detailed questions about your condition and performing a thorough physical examination. In some instances, further testing may be ordered including X-ray, MRI, CT scan, DEXA scan, blood work or EMG/NCV studies so a proper diagnosis can be reached and more serious conditions can be ruled out .
At Imperial Pain Specialists , our skilled team of physicians and therapists specialize in creating a personalized treatment strategy with each individual patient’s goals and condition in mind. The overwhelming majority of low back pain with leg symptoms can be successfully managed completely conservatively with physical therapy and chiropractic care. Treatment may include exercise, manual therapy, manipulation, modalities, massage, mechanical traction, hot/cold, and advice on how to properly manage your condition while you are not with us in the office.
For the minority of patients who do not respond to conservative care we have other treatment options including pain management with our board certified physicians with treatment including trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet injections, sacroiliac injections and radiofrequency ablations.
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality non-surgical care for back pain with leg symptoms in a warm, caring environment.
Mid Back Pain
Pain in the mid back is often caused by joint dysfunction, poor muscular function, scoliosis, poor posture and less commonly by the discs of the spine. Symptoms can vary based on the pain generating tissue but can include dull-achy pain, sharp pain, difficulty breathing, stabbing pain or even referred pain going into the ribs.
Proper treatment of mid back pain begins with a proper diagnosis with establishing which of the four main pain generating tissues of the spine is responsible for causing a patient’s pain. This can be accomplished through asking detailed questions about your condition and performing a thorough physical examination. In some instances, further testing may be ordered including X-ray, MRI, CT scan, DEXA scan, blood work or EMG/NCV studies so a proper diagnosis can be reached and more serious conditions can be ruled out.
Once a proper diagnosis has been made, mid back pain can usually be successfully managed with chiropractic care and or physical therapy with treatments including manipulation, physiotherapy, exercise and advice on proper posture, stretching, bending, and lifting activities .
For the minority of patients who do not respond to conservative care we have other treatment options including pain management with our board certified physicians with treatment including trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet injections, Sacroiliac injections and radiofrequency ablations.
Muscular Pain
Muscle pain is a common ailment that may occur as a result of an injury, such as a pull, tear or rupture, or a strain from overuse, improper lifting or poor postures. It can develop as a result of certain muscles becoming overactive and tight while other characteristic muscles can become limp or underactive. Trigger points, which are local areas of congestion within a muscle, can develop as a result of both tight and underactive muscles which can irritate nerve endings in the area resulting in pain. When muscles become underactive it compromises the spines ability to protect the joints, discs, and nerves making it much more likely for an injury to occur. Symptoms of muscular pain vary but may include localized-achy pain, sharp pain, burning pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, or referred pain to a distant area.
Proper treatment of muscular pain begins with a proper diagnosis which includes establishing which tissue is responsible for the pain. This can be accomplished through asking detailed questions about your condition and performing a thorough physical examination. In some instances, further testing may be ordered including X-ray, MRI, CT scan, DEXA scan, blood work or EMG/NCV studies so a proper diagnosis can be reached and more serious conditions can be ruled out .
Proper management of muscular pain starts with addressing the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms a patient is experiencing. Treatments vary based on the cause of the problem but usually include chiropractic care and physical therapy with the goal of stretching the muscles that need to be lengthened and making the underactive muscles work more efficiently through specific exercises and activities making it less likely for future injuries to occur.
For the minority of patients with muscular pain that do not respond favorably to conservative care we have other treatment options including pain management with our board certified physicians with treatment including trigger point injections.
Neck Pain
The neck is an extremely important part of the human body. There are a multitude of tissues including arteries, joints, muscles and ligaments that all play an important role in keeping the neck healthy. Because of its pivotal role and frequent use the neck is susceptible to injury and chronic pain. Neck pain is extremely common with approximately 50%-70% of the population experiencing it at one point in their lives. Severity of neck pain can vary from a minor discomfort to being debilitating. Neck pain can be caused by poor lifting techniques, overuse, trauma and even poor posture. Symptoms associated with neck pain can include localized achy pain, sharp pain, numbness, tingling, headaches, weakness and referred pain going down the arms or in to the shoulder blades.
Proper treatment of neck pain begins with a proper diagnosis. It is then important to establish which of the four main pain generating tissues of the spine is responsible for causing a patient’s pain. This can be accomplished through asking detailed questions about your condition and performing a thorough physical examination. In some instances, further testing may be ordered including X-ray, MRI, MRA, CT scan, DEXA scan, blood work or EMG/NCV studies so a proper diagnosis can be reached and more serious conditions can be ruled out.
At Imperial Pain Specialists , our skilled team of physicians and therapists specialize in creating a personalized treatment strategy with each individual patient’s goals and condition in mind. The overwhelming majority of neck pain can be successfully managed completely conservatively with physical therapy and chiropractic care with treatment including exercise, manual therapy, manipulation, modalities, mechanical traction, hot/cold, and advice on how to properly manage your condition while you are not with us in our NJ office.
For the minority of patients who do not respond to conservative care for their neck pain we have other treatment options including pain management with our board certified physicians with treatment including trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet injections and radiofrequency ablations. We also offer non-surgical spinal decompression for the cervical spine. Ask one of our skilled staff about the DRX9000(C)™ machine.
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality non-surgical care for neck pain in a warm, caring environment.
Nerve Disorders
Nerves can be affected in the body in several ways and can cause different types of symptoms.
The most common symptoms are pain, numbness and tingling and weakness.
Nerves can be affected in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).
Nerves can be pinched in the neck or back and cause a shooting pain down the arms or legs with numbness and weakness (one can get either one or all symptoms due to nerve damage).
Peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness and tingling in both hands and feet. In severe cases of nerve damage there can even be paralysis and loss of bowel and bladder function.
When you come to Imperial Pain Specialists , you will a get thorough evaluation and examination to see if any nerve disorders are present. Depending on the finding, you may be required to get additional diagnostic work up such as MRI’s or nerve conduction studies/EMG.
Treatment can include conservative treatment with physical therapy or chiropractic care with possible mechanical traction. Depending on the type for nerve disorder, one may also benefit from injections or other procedures.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common condition that affects more than half of adults over the age of 65, causing bone loss that can potentially leads to fractures, height loss and a hump-backed appearance. Post-menopausal women are at the highest risk of developing osteoporosis but lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, low calcium intake, excessive alcohol intake, inadequate vitamin D intake, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet can all impact bone mineral density.
Bone lost from osteoporosis cannot be replaced, but your doctor will work with you to prevent further weakening. The treatment plan may include specific exercises, dietary counseling, hormone therapy or chiropractic treatment.
The gold standard in diagnosing osteoporosis is a DEXA scan which can conveniently be performed in our office. The team at Imperial Pain Specialists is skilled in the assessment and treatment of osteoporosis where the proper treatment starts with a proper diagnosis.
Whiplash (Cervical Acceleration – Deceleration Injury)
Every year nearly 3 million people suffer a whiplash injury and about half are left with some chronic pain. Whiplash is a relatively common injury that occurs to a person’s neck following a sudden acceleration-deceleration force, most commonly from motor vehicle collisions, sport activities and accidental falls.
The most common symptoms of whiplash are neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, temporomandibular joint symptoms (TMJ, jaw pain), arm pain, arm weakness, visual disturbances, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and back pain.
At Imperial Pain Specialists , a thorough examination by our physicians can diagnose whiplash symptoms. In some severe cases, diagnostic testing may be needed such as x-rays or MRI’s to rule out any major injuries in the neck. Conservative treatment utilizing chiropractic care or physical therapy are often effective relieving symptoms of whiplash.
Sometimes whiplash symptoms are latent and do not appear immediately following the incident. If signs of whiplash are present, you should immediately contact a healthcare provider for effective treatment. If whiplash injuries are left untreated, they could lead to long-term disabling neck injuries such as chronic pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue and much, much more.