Lower Back Pain Treatment in Dallas

When to see a doctor

Consider an evaluation if your lower back pain:

• Has not eased after two to four weeks of rest and gentle activity
• Travels below the knee or comes with numbness, tingling or weakness
• Is worse when sitting, bending or standing for long periods
• Followed a lift, a fall, a car accident or a work injury

When to get urgent care

Seek emergency care right away for lower back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, sudden leg weakness, fever, or pain after significant trauma.

How the source is found

The exam checks how pain changes with bending, twisting and leg raising, along with reflexes and strength. These patterns help tell disc and nerve pain apart from facet joint or sacroiliac joint pain. MRI or X-ray is used when results will guide treatment, and a diagnostic block can confirm the pain generator.

Your first visit

We review your symptoms, past treatments and any imaging you bring, then examine your lower back and legs. Before you leave, you will know the most likely cause, whether further tests are needed, and what the first step of treatment is.

Treatment options explained

Treatment depends on the cause: physical therapy and core strengthening for muscle and posture problems, epidural injections for irritated nerve roots, facet or SI joint injections and radiofrequency ablation for joint-related pain. Surgery is considered only when conservative care has not helped.

What to expect afterwards

Procedures are outpatient, with most patients returning to light activity within a day or two. Improvement may be quick or gradual, and combining treatment with an exercise program gives the best chance of longer-lasting relief.