Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Non-Surgical Treatment Options in Phoenix
Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. For some, it resolves with rest. For others, it becomes chronic, radiates into the legs, interferes with sleep, or makes work and daily life difficult.
At Arizona Pain, our team of board-certified pain specialists, Advanced Practice Providers. Chiropractors and PTs focus on identifying the root cause of your back pain and building a personalized, treatment plan designed to restore function — not just temporarily reduce symptoms.
If your pain has not improved with basic care or keeps returning, a comprehensive evaluation can help determine the next step. Request an appointment at one of our Valley-wide locations to get started.
When Should You See a Pain Specialist?
It may be time to see a specialist if:
- Pain lasts longer than 6 weeks
- Pain radiates into the leg or foot
- You experience numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Pain interferes with work, sleep, or daily activity
- Physical therapy or primary care treatments have not helped
- You want to avoid surgery or long-term opioid use
Early evaluation can often prevent progression and reduce the likelihood of needing more invasive procedures later.
What causes chronic back pain?
Back pain can originate from multiple structures in the spine, joints, nerves, or surrounding muscles. Proper diagnosis is essential because each cause requires a different approach.
Common causes include:
- Herniated or Bulging Discs
Discs act as cushions between spinal bones. When damaged, they may press on nearby nerves and cause back and leg pain (sciatica). - Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related disc changes can lead to inflammation, stiffness, and chronic discomfort. - Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal can compress nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the back and legs. - Facet Joint Arthritis
Arthritis in the small joints of the spine can create localized back pain that worsens with movement. - Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
Inflammation in the SI joint can mimic lower back pain and radiate into the hips and buttocks. - Muscle Strain or Ligament Injury
Acute injuries may improve with time, but repeated strain can lead to persistent pain. - Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
Some patients continue to experience pain after surgery due to nerve irritation or structural changes.
A detailed evaluation helps distinguish between these possibilities and avoid unnecessary or ineffective treatments.
How Arizona Pain Evaluates Back Pain
Our diagnostic approach begins with understanding, not assumptions.
Comprehensive Medical Evaluation
Your visit includes:
- Detailed medical history
- Neurological and musculoskeletal exam
- Functional assessment (how pain affects movement and daily life)
Advanced Diagnostic Testing
To pinpoint the source of your pain, we may use:
- MRI or imaging review
- Diagnostic injections to confirm the pain source
- EMG/NCS testing for nerve-related symptoms
Diagnostic injections are particularly valuable because they help confirm whether a specific joint, disc, or nerve is the true source of pain before more advanced treatments are considered.
Multidisciplinary Care Review
Back pain is rarely just structural. Chronic pain often involves:
- Movement dysfunction
- Muscle imbalance
- Stress and nervous system sensitization
Our team may collaborate and communicate between our interventional physicians, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and behavioral health support to create a complete plan that works for you. .
We prioritize non-surgical, minimally invasive care whenever possible.
Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment Options in Phoenix
The right treatment depends entirely on your diagnosis. Your personalized care plan may include one or more of the following:
Conservative Treatments for Back Pain
- Physical therapy and guided movement programs
- Chiropractic care
- Activity modification
- Behavioral health strategies for chronic pain
- Anti-inflammatory or short-term medications when appropriate
Interventional Pain Procedures
When conservative treatments are not enough, targeted, image-guided procedures may provide lasting relief:
- Epidural steroid injections
- Facet joint injections
- Sacroiliac joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
These treatments aim to reduce inflammation and calm irritated nerves without surgery.
Advanced Minimally Invasive Options
For persistent or complex back pain, advanced techniques may be considered:
- MILD® procedure for spinal stenosis
- Intracept® procedure for vertebrogenic pain
- Spinal cord stimulation for chronic nerve pain
These procedures are designed to be less invasive than traditional spine surgery and may be appropriate for patients who want to avoid major operations.
Our Opioid-Sparing Approach to Back Pain
Many patients worry about becoming dependent on pain medication. We share that concern.
Our back pain treatment philosophy emphasizes:
- Identifying and treating the root cause
- Using medications only when appropriate
- Supporting safe tapering when possible
- Focusing on long-term function, not just short-term pain scores
Our goal is sustainable improvement, not indefinite medication reliance.
Why Patients Choose Arizona Pain for Back Pain Care
Patients throughout the Phoenix Valley — including Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Anthem, Sun City, Phoenix and Tempe — choose Arizona Pain because we provide:
- Integrated, multidisciplinary care
- Non-surgical-first treatment philosophy
- Advanced minimally invasive options
- Valley-wide locations
- On-site procedure centers
- Telehealth availability
- Broad insurance acceptance, including Medicare and Medicaid
Our focus is on helping patients move better, function better, and regain quality of life.
FAQs About Back Pain
Here are some common questions about chronic back pain treatment.
The most effective treatment depends on the underlying cause. Options may include physical therapy, targeted injections like epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, or advanced minimally invasive procedures such as the MILD® or Intracept® procedure. Proper diagnosis is key.
Diagnosis involves a thorough physical examination, imaging review (such as MRI), and sometimes diagnostic injections to confirm the exact pain generator.
When performed by experienced specialists, epidural injections are generally safe and may reduce inflammation around irritated nerves.
Surgery is typically considered only after conservative and minimally invasive options have been exhausted, or in cases of significant neurological compromise such as progressive weakness or loss of bladder/bowel control.
Yes. Many patients improve with physical therapy, interventional procedures, and multidisciplinary care without relying on long-term opioid therapy.
Some patients experience relief within weeks. Chronic conditions may require a structured, multi-month approach tailored to the underlying diagnosis.
Don’t let back pain control your life. The team at Arizona Pain is here to help you find lasting relief — without unnecessary surgery or long-term opioid use. Request an appointment online or call (480) 245-6211 to speak with our team.