Stop Living with Chronic Back Pain: Exploring Your Minimally Invasive Options

Between 8% and 12% of adults experience chronic back pain, making it difficult to work, exercise, and perform other routine tasks. 

If you’re one of these people, you may have been told that the only way to achieve lasting relief is with complex spinal surgery. While it’s true that surgery may help in some cases, minimally invasive options can offer similar benefits for many people. 

At HAAS Spine & Orthopaedics in Glendale, Santa Ana, and Upland, California, pain management expert Dr. Stepan Kasimian regularly treats chronic back pain using a minimally invasive approach. Here’s when your back pain problem calls for specialist care.  

When to consider treatment for chronic back pain

Back pain is considered chronic when it persists for more than three months (12 weeks) and doesn’t improve with rest, at-home care, or lifestyle changes. Common causes of chronic back pain include:

• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint problems

If you have ongoing back pain and it doesn’t improve, don’t wait to seek professional care. 

After discussing your symptoms, reviewing your health history, and completing a comprehensive exam, Dr. Kasimian can identify the underlying cause and make personalized treatment recommendations. 

Minimally invasive treatment options for chronic back pain

Dr. Kasimian offers several minimally invasive treatment options for chronic back pain. Depending on your symptoms and their severity, he may suggest:

Epidural steroid injections

An epidural is an injection that Dr. Kasimian administers into the epidural space surrounding your spine. It’s designed to reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves to provide temporary pain relief. 

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

RFA is a minimally invasive treatment that uses heat to interrupt pain signals from reaching your brain. During treatment, Dr. Kasimian inserts an electrode into your skin near the nerve or group of nerves responsible for your back pain. 

Once placed, the electrode heats your nerve tissue, disrupting its ability to send pain signals. RFA can provide pain relief for several months, and the effects may last a year or longer for some people.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS)

If your chronic back pain is caused by a structural issue, such as a herniated disc or pinched nerve, Dr. Kasimian may recommend minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). 

MISS is an umbrella term for several types of surgery. It uses smaller incisions and does less damage to your tissues, allowing for a quicker, less painful recovery. Examples of MISS include spinal fusion and total disc replacement.

Take the first step toward relief for chronic back pain

If you’re tired of trying to manage chronic back pain on your own,  we can help. Call HAAS Spine & Orthopaedics in Glendale, Santa Ana, or Upland, California, today, or use our online booking feature to request an appointment at your convenience.