Back Pain

Chicago Pain Relief, PC Shivani Chadha, MD Our Services Back Pain
Shivani Chadha, MD - - Interventional Pain Management

Chicago Pain Relief, PC

Shivani Chadha, MD

Interventional Pain Management & Anesthesiologist located in Willowbrook, IL

Back pain is incredibly common, with 31 million Americans experiencing it at any given time. Chronic lower back pain can involve a disc or joint problem, or be the result of an irritated nerve route, all of which can be addressed by Dr. Shivani Chadha and the expert team at Chicago Pain Relief in Willowbrook, Illinois. If you live in Chicagoland, call the office or book an appointment online today to learn more about the available treatment options to relieve your back pain.

Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

A muscle strain may cause short-term low back pain, and often resolves on its own after a few weeks of conservative, at-home treatments. Long-term pain, however, usually requires medical intervention from a specialist like Dr. Chadha.

Common causes of long-term back pain include:

Herniated disc

Each of your vertebrae is separated by cushy discs consisting of a firm exterior and a jelly-like interior. If the exterior ruptures and the internal fluid leaks out, it can irritate and inflame nearby nerve routes.

Spinal stenosis

This condition describes the narrowing of the spinal canal where your nerve routes are located.

Degenerative disc disease

As you age, your discs become dehydrated and deteriorate, leading them to develop tears or collapse into the stenosis.

Spondylolisthesis

This condition occurs when one vertebra slips over an adjacent one.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is progressive and associated with aging. When the facet joints behind your discs become irritated over time as cartilage wears down, it leads to significant pain.

What is SI joint dysfunction?

Your sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, may be responsible for 15-30% of the low back pain.

The SI joint connects your hip bones to the sacrum in your lower back and cushions the space between the upper body and the pelvis and legs. Too much or too little mobility in this joint can cause muscle tension that results in pain and decreased range of motion.

You may experience sciatica-like pain that radiates down the back of one leg as a result.

How is low back pain treated?

Conservative treatments for low back pain include rest, ice/heat therapy, and over-the-counter medications. When these don’t work, Dr. Chadha offers more intensive therapies such as:

  • Epidural injections: delivers a steroid directly to the area experiencing pain to reduce inflammation
  • Transforaminal injections: target the opening at the side of the spine where a nerve route exits to reduce inflammation and swelling
  • Radiofrequency ablation: an electrical current produced by radio waves heats up nerve tissue, decreasing pain signals it sends to the brain
  • Bracing: an inelastic, corset-style brace is worn daily along with regular physical therapy

For injections and radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Chadha may use X-ray guided imaging, or fluoroscopy, which allows her to see the exact area being targeted by the injections or radiofrequency ablation to ensure the affected nerve areas receive treatment.

Call Chicago Pain Relief or book a consultation online today to learn more about treating your back pain.

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