Back Pain

Don’t Let Back Pain Define You

Living with back pain can touch every part of your life: your work, your relationships, and even your sense of independence. Whether your pain came on suddenly or has lingered for years, you deserve more than temporary relief. At Summit Spine & Joint Centers, we specialize in helping patients throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina find lasting, non-surgical solutions to chronic and acute back pain.

With more than 40 locations across the Southeast, our board-certified pain management specialists use advanced, minimally invasive treatments to diagnose and treat back pain at its source, so you can get back to doing what you love.

Understanding Back Pain: You’re Not Alone

Back pain is one of the most common health issues in America, affecting nearly 80% of adults at some point. The spine is a complex network of bones, nerves, discs, and muscles. When even one component is strained or damaged, the result can be persistent pain.

At Summit Spine & Joint Centers, our physicians take the time to pinpoint why your back hurts. Whether it’s a herniated disc, arthritis in the spine, spinal stenosis, or nerve compression, our team uses advanced diagnostics and precision-guided imaging to find the root cause and create a customized treatment plan that works for you.

When Should You Seek Professional Back Pain Treatment?

While mild back pain may improve with rest, some symptoms signal the need for professional care. You should see a pain management specialist if you experience:

• Pain lasting more than a few weeks
• Pain that radiates down your leg (sciatica)
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs
• Back pain after a fall or accident
• Pain that interferes with sleep or work
• Unexplained weight loss along with pain

The earlier you seek care, the easier it is to treat back pain before it becomes chronic.

What Are the Most Common Types and Causes of Back Pain?

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain, also known as lumbar pain, is the most prevalent form of back pain. The lower back bears much of your body’s weight and is involved in almost every movement you make, making it particularly vulnerable to injury and strain. Common causes include:

• Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains: Sudden movements, heavy lifting, or poor posture can strain the muscles and ligaments in your lower back, causing acute pain and stiffness.
• Herniated or Bulging Discs: The soft cushions between your vertebrae can bulge or rupture, putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing pain that may radiate down your legs, a condition often associated with sciatica.
• Degenerative Disc Disease: As we age, the discs in our spine naturally lose hydration and flexibility, which can lead to chronic lower back pain. While this is a normal part of aging, it doesn’t mean you have to live with constant discomfort.
• Spinal Stenosis: This narrowing of the spinal canal can compress the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in pain, numbness, or weakness in the lower back and legs. Spinal stenosis often develops gradually and is more common in people over 50.
• Facet Joint Arthritis: The small joints that connect your vertebrae can develop arthritis, leading to inflammation, stiffness, and chronic back pain that worsens with specific movements.

Upper Back Pain

While less common than lower back pain, upper back pain (thoracic pain) can be equally distressing. The upper back is more stable and less mobile than the lower back, but it can still be affected by:

• Poor Posture: Hours spent hunched over a computer or looking down at your phone can strain the muscles and ligaments of your upper back, leading to persistent aching and tension.
• Muscle Overuse: Repetitive movements, especially those involving lifting or reaching, can lead to muscle fatigue and pain in the upper back region.
• Injury or Trauma: Accidents, falls, or sports injuries can damage the structures of your upper back, resulting in acute or chronic pain.
• Herniated Discs: Though less common in the thoracic spine, disc problems can occur in the upper back and may cause radiating pain around the ribcage.

Middle Back Pain

Pain in the middle back area can stem from many of the same conditions that affect other regions of the spine, including muscle strains, poor posture, and disc problems. Additionally, middle back pain may be related to:

• Compressed Nerves: Nerve compression in the thoracic spine can cause sharp, shooting pain that may wrap around your torso.
• Osteoarthritis: Wear and tear on the joints of the middle back can lead to inflammation and chronic discomfort.
• Scoliosis or Kyphosis: Abnormal curvatures of the spine can place uneven stress on your back muscles and joints, contributing to ongoing pain.

What are the Specific Back Pain Conditions We Treat?

• Chronic Back Pain

When back pain persists for three months or longer, it’s considered chronic. Chronic back pain can significantly impact your physical and emotional well-being, affecting your sleep, mood, and ability to engage in daily activities. At Summit Spine & Joint Centers, we understand that chronic pain requires a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses not just the symptoms but also the underlying causes and contributing factors.

• Disc Disease

Intervertebral disc disease encompasses several conditions affecting the cushioning discs between your vertebrae, including herniated discs, bulging discs, and degenerative disc disease. These conditions can cause localized back pain as well as radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms or legs, depending on where the affected disc is located.

• Sciatica

Sciatica is characterized by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. This condition typically affects only one side of your body and can cause sharp, shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected leg. Sciatica often results from a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis compressing the sciatic nerve.

• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Some patients continue to experience pain even after undergoing back surgery, a condition known as failed back surgery syndrome or post-laminectomy syndrome. This ongoing pain can be frustrating and discouraging, but it doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Our specialists have extensive experience treating recurring pain from previous back surgeries with advanced, minimally invasive techniques that don’t require additional surgery.

• Work-Related and Accident-Related Back Pain

Whether your back pain resulted from a workplace injury, car accident, or other traumatic event, Summit Spine & Joint Centers can help. We accept workers’ compensation claims and work closely with your other healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive recovery plan. Our goal is to help you heal and return to work and normal activities as quickly and safely as possible.

Our holistic approach ensures that your spine, muscles, and posture all work together for long-term recovery.

What Are Some Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Back Pain?

We offer a comprehensive range of non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments that can provide significant pain relief while allowing you to avoid the risks and lengthy recovery times associated with traditional surgery. Our treatment options include:

• Epidural Steroid Injections: These targeted injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area of your spine, reducing inflammation and providing pain relief that can last for weeks or months.
• Facet Joint Injections: For pain originating from the small joints of your spine, facet joint injections can reduce inflammation and provide diagnostic information about the source of your pain.
• Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): This innovative therapy uses mild electrical pulses to interrupt pain signals before they reach your brain, providing relief from chronic back pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: This procedure uses heat to temporarily disable the nerves sending pain signals from your back, offering longer-lasting relief for chronic back pain.
• Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD): This outpatient procedure removes small pieces of bone and tissue that may be compressing your spinal nerves, providing relief from spinal stenosis symptoms.
• Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (BVNA): Also known as the Intracept procedure, this treatment targets the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body to relieve chronic low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.
• Sacroiliac Joint Fusion: For patients with SI joint dysfunction, this minimally invasive procedure stabilizes the joint to reduce pain and improve mobility.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This regenerative treatment uses concentrated platelets from your own blood to promote healing in damaged tissues and reduce inflammation.
• Kyphoplasty: For patients with vertebral compression fractures, this procedure can restore vertebral height and reduce pain through the injection of bone cement.
• Intrathecal Pain Pump

For severe chronic pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments, an intrathecal pain pump delivers medication directly into the spinal fluid at micro doses, offering significant pain control with fewer side effects than oral medications.

• Physical Rehabilitation and Supportive Care

Treatment at Summit doesn’t end with an injection. We combine interventions with physical therapy, exercise guidance, and lifestyle modifications to strengthen your core muscles and prevent pain from returning.

Why Patients Across the Southeast Choose Summit Spine & Joint Centers

• Board-Certified Pain Specialists: Our physicians are board-certified and fellowship-trained in interventional pain management, bringing years of expertise in spine and nerve care.
• Advanced Imaging Technology: All procedures are performed using fluoroscopic (real-time X-ray) or ultrasound guidance for pinpoint accuracy and safety.
• Convenient Locations: With more than 40 centers throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, expert care is never far from home.
• Fast Appointments & Insurance-Friendly: We strive to schedule new patients within 24 hours and accept most major insurance plans, Medicare, and workers’ compensation claims.
• A Whole-Person Approach: At Summit, we treat more than your pain, we help restore your strength, confidence, and quality of life.

How Does Summit Spine & Joint Centers Treat Back Pain?

At Summit Spine & Joint Centers, we believe in treating each patient as an individual, not as a diagnosis. When you visit one of our locations, you’ll receive a thorough evaluation to determine the exact source of your back pain. Our board-certified physicians use advanced diagnostic tools and their extensive training to develop a personalized treatment plan designed specifically for your condition. Our goal is simple: lasting relief without surgery whenever possible.

Here’s what you can expect when your choose Summit Spine & Joint Centers to help relieve your back pain:

1. Initial Consultation: Meet with a specialist to review your symptoms, medical history, and imaging.
2. Diagnostic Testing: Advanced imaging or diagnostic injections pinpoint the source of your pain.
3. Personalized Treatment Plan: Your doctor will explain the best options, from injections to regenerative therapy.
4. Minimally Invasive Procedures: Most treatments are outpatient with little downtime.
5. Rehabilitation & Follow-Up: We guide you through exercises, adjustments, and continued care to maintain relief.

Ready to Take the First Step Toward a Pain-Free Life?

You don’t have to live with back pain. Whether your discomfort began after an injury, surgery, or years of wear and tear, Summit Spine & Joint Centers can help.

With convenient locations throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, expert back pain treatment is closer than you think.

Call us at (770) 962-3642 or request an appointment online today to start your journey toward recovery. Together, we’ll help you relieve pain, restore movement, and reclaim your life.