Back, Leg, and Arm Pain
-Radicular or Somatic
Most back, leg and arm pain is nociceptive pain. Nociceptive pain can be divided into two parts, radicular or somatic.
Radicular pain is pain that stems from irritation of the nerve roots, for example, from a disc herniation. It goes down the leg in the distribution of the nerve root. Associated with radicular pain is radiculopathy, which is weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of reflexes in the distribution of the nerve.
Somatic pain is pain limited to the back or thighs. The problem that doctors and patients face with back pain is that, after you go to the doctor and have a good history taken, a physical exam performed and appropriate imaging studies, such as X-rays, MRIs or CT scans taken, the doctor can only come up with a diagnosis as to why you are having pain only about 15% of the time. We don’t believe that 85% of the people coming through our door are making up their pain!
Careful research has shown that most back pain which does not go away after conservative treatment comes from one of three structures in the back:
The facet joints (small joints in the back of the spine which provide stability and which limit how far you can bend back or twist);
The discs (the “shock absorber” which stands between each of your vertebral bodies (bones of the spine);
Or
The sacroiliac joint, a joint in your pelvis which helps you walk and which helps transfer weight from your torso and head down onto the legs.
By using fluoroscopically (x-ray) guided injections, we can determine, about 80% of the time, where your pain is coming from. In this way, using interventional techniques, we can help most of the 85% of people with low back pain of unknown origin determine where that pain is coming from.
Once we have diagnosed your pain, we can then treat it.
At Pacific Coast Pain Management Center, Dr. Helm, and associates will use contemporary techniques to diagnose and treat your pain. If you live in the Laguna Hills or greater Orange County area, call today to schedule your consultation with one of our specialists.