Millions of Americans live with lower back pain, which could be due to osteoarthritis. Not only can the cartilage that cushions your vertebrae wear away, but you can also develop lower back pain from arthritis in your hips or knees that affects the way you walk, your musculoskeletal balance, and nerve health.
Syed Nasir, MD, our fellowship-trained pain management expert here at Skilled Pain Care Clinic, PA, in Houston and Katy, Texas, has helped hundreds of patients find effective, lasting pain relief and restore their quality of life. We offer thorough exams and innovative treatments for osteoarthritis, tailoring treatment plans to address your individual needs.
Osteoarthritis is the degenerative form of arthritis. It develops as the cartilage that lines, cushions, and lubricates your joints wears away. Without sufficient cartilage, the bones in your joints rub together, creating friction, which irritates your bone tissue. As a result, your joint becomes inflamed, swollen, stiff, and painful.
Osteoarthritis is very common — over 32.5 million Americans live with this painful disease. Fortunately, it is treatable, especially when diagnosed early.
Following a thorough exam and testing to confirm that osteoarthritis is the cause of your lower back pain, we create a personalized treatment plan to relieve your pain and help you get back to your regular activities. Depending on your needs, your treatment plan could include:
Both corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the painful inflammation of your joints. Depending on your condition, we might recommend over-the-counter medicine or prescribe a specific medication.
We might also recommend a pain-relieving injection. Dr. Nasir injects powerful anti-inflammatory medicine or hyaluronic acid into arthritic joints to relieve your pain. You can have injections in your spine as well as other joints, such as your knees and hips. Corticosteroid injections can provide long-lasting relief, while hyaluronic acid can relubricate your joint to reduce friction.
Depending on the location and severity of your arthritis, Dr. Nasir might recommend a nerve block injection to eliminate your pain. A nerve block temporarily disrupts a pain signal from traveling to your brain.
In some cases, Dr. Nasir recommends regenerative medicine treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP injections stimulate your body’s ability to create new cells, which might help restore an arthritic joint.
We know, when you have lower back pain or other arthritis-related discomforts, exercise is probably the last thing you want to do. But hear us out — low-impact exercise can strengthen the muscles that support your spine and other arthritic joints, which can reduce your pain and improve your mobility. Dr. Nasir often recommends gentle walking, swimming, yoga, and pilates to improve your health and relieve your lower back and joint pain.
If you live with chronic lower back pain or have concerns about arthritis, call our offices or schedule an appointment online.
