All too often, we hear from individuals who have suffered – sometimes for months or years – with chronic or debilitating back pain. Sometimes their pain in the result of a trauma; other times, the cause is the result of conditions that affect the spine itself or the muscles and joints supporting the spine. Often people delay seeking medical treatment because they fear surgery. While it is true that some people require surgery to address their pain, in many cases, individuals can achieve total or near total pain relief with new non-surgical treatments.

Whatever your situation, we are here to help. The Spine Specialists of Atlanta Medical Center know that whatever your level of pain, you want to return to being pain-free with as little medical intervention as possible. Not only do we offer expert diagnostics to determine the exact nature of your condition, and a full complement of board certified surgeons, interventional radiologists and pain management specialists to resolve your pain, but we also offer a Nurse Navigator who is available to answer your questions with straight talk and comforting support.

It is important to remember that back pain is a symptom – not a diagnosis itself - of a medical condition and may be caused by problems that include[1]:

• Mechanical problems with the spine. Conditions include intervertebral disc degeneration, spasms, muscle tension, and herniated – or ruptured – discs.
• Injuries such as sprains and fractures may be caused by accidents or by twisting or lifting improperly.
• Diseases such as scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and arthrirtis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis). In addition, pregnancy, endometriosis, kidney stones, and fibromyalgia can cause back pain.
• Although uncommon, infections, such as osteomyelitis or discitis, and tumors can cause back pain.

A thorough examination combined, as needed, with tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your back pain.