BACK PAIN DOCTORS IN CHICAGO

Raising the Standard of Excellence for Back Pain Treatment

Back pain is one of the most common conditions that impacts most Americans during their lifetime. At MAPS, we’re proud to provide the best back pain treatment in Chicago. Recognizing the need for specialized care, our medical team has developed a practice dedicated to addressing back pain with non-surgical alternatives for long-term relief.

Whether a patient has already received surgery, has tried another treatment method, or simply has been suffering for years without any relief, our double-board certified and fellowship-trained physicians are uniquely positioned to treat your back pain with a world-class level of excellence.

If you experience back pain, don’t wait another day. Contact the team at MAPS to schedule an appointment:

What is Back Pain and What are the Back Pain Symptoms?

Back pain affects millions of people, but the way it impacts daily life can vary greatly. For some, it’s a mild discomfort that’s easy to manage, while for others, it can be debilitating, making even simple tasks feel impossible. Whether it’s a dull ache, a sharp pain, or a sensation that radiates through the legs, back pain often points to underlying issues such as injury, poor posture, or medical conditions that shouldn’t be ignored. Recognizing the symptoms early is crucial for preventing further complications and returning to a pain-free life. Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with back pain:

• Muscle aches and soreness: A general discomfort or tenderness in the back muscles.

• Stiffness: Difficulty moving or a feeling of tightness in the back, especially after prolonged sitting or standing.

• Limited mobility: Pain that makes it hard to bend, twist, or lift objects.

• Sharp, stabbing pain: Intense pain that can be localized to a specific area, such as the lower back.

• Numbness or tingling: A sensation of pins and needles in the back or legs.

• Sciatica: Back pain caused by pinched nerves can lead to sciatica, which is characterized by pain that runs down one or both legs.

No matter how small your symptoms are, it’s important not to ignore them. Even seemingly minor issues can worsen without treatment.

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain can be caused by a wide range of factors, from lifestyle habits to medical conditions. Here are some top causes:

• Injury: Sports injuries, falls or traumatic accidents can damage your muscles, ligaments, and spine.

• Muscle strain: Anything from overuse to improper lifting can strain your back muscles.

• Herniated discs: Your vertebrae have discs that help absorb shock and provide cushioning to the spinal column. These discs can slip or rupture, which makes them press on nerves and causes pain.

• Medical conditions: Back pain can be caused by several medical conditions, including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease. While anyone can develop these conditions, they’re often associated with aging.

• Skeletal irregularities: If you develop a curved spine (scoliosis) or excessive rounding (kyphosis), you’ll likely experience back pain.

• Obesity: Excess weights puts additional strain on your back.

• Poor posture: Excessive slouching strains your back, resulting in pain.

• Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of physical activity weakens your back muscles.

Whether your back pain is caused by an injury, medical condition or some other issue, it’s important to find the right treatment.

The Importance of Back Pain Location

When developing a back pain treatment plan, pinpointing the location of the pain is crucial. The area affected can provide vital clues about the underlying cause. Generally, back pain falls into one of the following categories:

• Lower back pain (lumbar): Lumbar pain, which is the most common type of back pain, is generally associated with muscle strain, herniated discs, and sciatica. In more severe cases, it may indicate kidney problems.

• Upper back pain (thoracic): Upper back pain can be caused by poor posture, muscle tension, or spinal issues. In rare cases, it can be a sign of heart or lung problems.

• Middle back pain: In most cases, middle back pain is caused by muscle strain or spinal problems. It may also be a sign of gallbladder issues.

• Radiating pain: If your pain is radiating down your limbs, you may have a pinched nerve or sciatica.

Each section of the back is connected to different muscles, nerves, bones, and organs. By accurately identifying the location of your pain, you can better understand its root cause and pursue the most effective treatment.

What Back Pain Conditions Do We Treat?

Looking for back pain relief? At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, we specialize in minimally invasive, personalized treatments that target the root cause of your pain. Our back doctors in Chicago have extensive experience with the following conditions:

• Lower back/lumbar pain

• Upper back pain

• Middle back pain

• Scoliosis (or spinal deformities)

• Spinal fractures, trauma, and injury

• Herniated discs

• Degenerative spine conditions (including degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis)

Back Pain Diagnosis

Before we can treat your back pain, we have to properly diagnose the cause. To do this, our team may perform the following:

• Consultation: We’ll start by learning more about you, including your medical history, your symptoms, and the location of your pain.

• Physical examination: During the physical examination, we’ll assess your posture, muscle strength, and mobility.

• Testing: We may use imaging and laboratory tests to check for things like fractures, spinal alignment issues, or autoimmune disease.

Once we’ve identified the source of your pain, we can start drafting a safe, effective back pain treatment plan.

What Back Pain Treatments Do We Offer?

We are leaders in conservative treatment for back pain and undergo an extensive analysis of our patient’s symptoms and conditions. We also thoroughly review each patient’s medical history to determine a course of action. Some of these treatments may include or be a combination of responsible medication management, physical therapy, an injection-based protocol, or a minimally invasive procedure. At MAPS, we tailor back pain treatments to suit each patient’s individual needs, ensuring optimal results. Our treatments include:

Injection-Based Therapy

Many patients respond positively to our injection-based treatments which offer the benefit of rapid pain relief as well as the benefits of being non-surgical. This may include:

• Lumbar and Cervical Injections: Injections in the lower spine

• Epidural Steroid Injections: Injections that use a corticosteroid and anesthetic solution

• Sacroiliac Joint Injection: Injections in the sacroiliac joint (which connects the spine to the pelvis)

• Trigger Point Injections: Injections that target knots, or tight muscles

• Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Injections near the lumbar sympathetic nerves

• Interscalene/Intercostal Blocks: Injections in the chest or upper abdomen

Minimally Invasive Procedures

We are leaders in interventional pain procedures that use the latest in medical technology to intercept pain signals from reaching the brain. Rather than masking symptoms with medication, many patients find long-term relief from procedures such as:

• Radiofrequency Ablation: Uses heat to disable nerves

• Spinal Cord Stimulator Implantation: Uses electrical pulses to disrupt pain signals

• Kyphoplasty: Uses cement to stabilize the spine and restore height

• Vertebroplasty: Uses cement to stabilize fractured vertebra

• Lumbar Sympathetic Block: Injections near the lumbar sympathetic nerves

• Disc Decompression: Removes a portion of herniated discs to relieve pressure

Responsible Medication Management

While the opioid crisis has made a negative impact on reducing the pain of Americans, there is still a place for responsible medication management that is closely monitored and observed if it provides a benefit to our patients. Our physicians may recommend:

• Ethical Pain Medicine Management: Provides pain relief while minimizing the risk of overdependence on medication

• Intrathecal Pumps: A surgically implanted pump that delivers pain medication

• Over-The-Counter Medications and Supplements: Offers mild to moderate relief without prescriptions

Cryoneurolysis

Over time, chronic back pain can damage certain nerves and cause them to transmit pain signals. Cryoneurolysis is an innovative treatment that uses freezing cold temperatures to disable these nerves. First, a thin probe is inserted in the skin near the impacted nerves. Then, the probe delivers small bursts of cold, which freeze the nerves and prevent them from sending pain signals to the brain.

Physical Therapy

Many of our patients find positive results when they couple their back pain treatment with a physical therapy program. Our physicians work with primary care physicians as well as experienced, qualified physical therapists to ensure our patients benefit from a comprehensive back pain treatment program.

Bracing & Support

Frequently Asked Questions

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At Centers for Pain Control,
Our Patients Are Our Priority

At MAPS, Our Patients Are Our Priority

What sets us apart from other clinics is our level of dedication and excellent patient advocacy that our patients have come to know and expect. We work with most major insurances and have processes in place that expedite paperwork - meaning we have more time to dedicate in person when assessing and treating our patients.

We work with most major insurances and have processes in place that expedite paperwork - meaning we have more time to dedicate in person when assessing and treating our patients.

We Are Here For You – Let Us Help Relieve Your Pain Today