Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the most common reason patients seek pain management care. Whether your pain is sharp and sudden or a chronic daily burden, understanding the underlying cause is the critical first step toward effective treatment.
The spine is a complex structure of vertebrae, discs, joints, ligaments, muscles, and nerves — and pain can originate from any of these components. Common sources include disc degeneration or herniation pressing on nerves, arthritic facet joints that stiffen with age, narrowing of the spinal canal (stenosis) that compresses nerve tissue, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction at the base of the spine.
Many patients experience overlapping conditions — for example, degenerative disc disease often accompanies facet joint arthritis, and both can contribute to spinal stenosis. This is why accurate diagnosis is essential: treating the wrong structure provides no relief.
Dr. Bhakta uses a combination of clinical evaluation, advanced imaging review, and diagnostic nerve blocks to pinpoint the exact source of your back pain before recommending a treatment plan. This precision approach — honed over 25+ years and thousands of patients — is what separates interventional pain management from generic "pain pills and rest" advice.
Radiating pain from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg, caused by sciatic nerve compression.
Disc material pushing through the outer ring and pressing on spinal nerves, causing pain and numbness.
Narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses nerve tissue, often causing pain with standing or walking.
Age-related breakdown of spinal discs causing chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility.
Arthritis or inflammation of the small spinal joints that guide motion, causing deep aching pain.
A pinched spinal nerve root causing pain, tingling, or weakness radiating into the legs.
Dysfunction of the SI joint connecting spine to pelvis, causing lower back and buttock pain.
Progressive degeneration of spinal joint cartilage causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine causing uneven stress and chronic pain in adults.
Forward slippage of one vertebra over another, potentially compressing spinal nerves.
Board-Certified Interventional Pain Specialist
Fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at Vanderbilt University. Board Certified for decades. Formerly served as Associate Professor at OU School of Medicine. Serving Tulsa since 2000.
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