Bux Pain Management
Board Certified Anesthesiologist located in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, & Danville, KY
Back pain affects everything in your life — your work, your ability to exercise, your ability just to walk or sit comfortably. For those suffering from chronic back pain, Anjum Bux, MD, offers long-term solutions at Bux Pain Management in Lexington, Cynthiana, and Danville, Kentucky. Dr. Bux has more than 20 years of experience in pain management. He’s dedicated to providing his patients with cutting-edge treatments that deliver lasting relief from back pain. To schedule an appointment with Bux Pain Management, call or book online today
Back Pain Q & A
What causes back pain?
A network of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves make up your back. Any injury or other damage to the spine can lead to pain that affects your flexibility and mobility.
Common reasons patients seek treatment for back pain include:
Herniated discs
The vertebrae in your spine receive cushion and flexibility from the small discs that cushion them. These discs have a gel center inside a tough outer casing. When small cracks form in your discs’ casing, the gel in the center can push through, irritating the surrounding nerves.
Muscle strains
Everybody suffers muscle strains once in a while. Repeated overuse, however, can cause lasting damage to the muscles and ligaments in your back.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an ongoing condition that inflames your joints. The two most common kinds of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear condition that damages the cartilage surrounding your joints. RA is an autoimmune condition that inflames your joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
Facet joint syndrome
Like arthritis, facet joint syndrome affects your spine’s joints and causes chronic back and neck pain. Because facet joints prevent you from overextending your joints, any condition that causes your spine to break down makes it difficult for your vertebral joints to move smoothly.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes your bones to become brittle and porous. As you get older, your chances of getting osteoporosis increase. The condition disproportionately affects women in middle age.
Fortunately, Bux Pain Management offers a range of minimally invasive treatments for back pain that can provide lasting relief and improve your mobility.
What are facet joint injections for back pain?
A facet joint injection is a medial branch block (nerve block) that Dr. Bux injects into the space surrounding your facet joints. The whole operation takes less than an hour. You can return home after the treatment. Because facet joint injections cause numbness, you’ll need someone to drive you home where you can rest and recover.
While you can feel soreness at the injection site, most patients experience a reduction in pain within one to two hours of treatment. Your most noticeable results usually show up three to five days after the injection.
What is rhizotomy for back pain?
While facet joint injections can relieve back pain, Their effects are often short-lived. A rhizotomy (also called radiofrequency ablation) is a longer-term solution. This nonsurgical procedure uses targeted heat energy to destroy dysfunctional nerves that continually send pain signals to your brain.
During the procedure, Dr. Bux uses X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) to guide a radiofrequency needle directly into the nerves that are causing your back pain. An electrical current passes through the needle, preventing the nerves from sending pain signals from your spine to your brain. Most people experience lasting relief from pain within 10 days of treatment.
To find the right back pain treatment for you, call Bux Pain Management today or schedule an appointment online.