Understanding Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the most common medical complaints worldwide, affecting up to 80% of adults at some point in their lives. While most acute episodes resolve within 6–12 weeks, chronic low back pain — defined as pain lasting more than 3 months — affects roughly 20% of the U.S. adult population and is the leading cause of work disability globally. The lumbar spine is a complex structure involving vertebrae, intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, muscles, and multiple nerve roots — any of which can become a source of pain.
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. A herniated disc causing nerve compression requires different treatment than facet joint arthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or muscle strain. Dr. Qureshi's interventional approach includes diagnostic injections to precisely identify pain sources when imaging alone is inconclusive, ensuring your treatment plan addresses the actual cause rather than managing symptoms in the dark.
Most low back pain does not require surgery. The vast majority of patients — even those with significant imaging findings — achieve excellent results through a combination of targeted injections, physical therapy, and appropriate lifestyle modification. Dr. Qureshi specializes in keeping patients out of the operating room.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is rarely caused by a single factor. The most common structural causes seen at our Katy practice include:
- Herniated or bulging discs — when the soft inner nucleus of a disc pushes through the outer ring and compresses a nearby nerve root, causing local back pain and often sciatica radiating down the leg
- Facet joint osteoarthritis — degenerative changes in the small paired joints of the lumbar spine, typically producing axial low back pain that worsens with extension and rotation
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — inflammation or instability of the SI joints, estimated to account for 15–25% of all chronic low back pain cases
- Lumbar spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord and nerve roots, commonly causing neurogenic claudication (leg pain with walking that improves with sitting)
- Degenerative disc disease — age-related disc dehydration and height loss that alters spinal mechanics and can cause chronic discogenic pain
- Myofascial pain — muscular pain from trigger points, often a secondary contributor to other structural conditions; trigger point injections can provide targeted relief
- Vertebral compression fractures — fractures of weakened vertebrae, often related to osteoporosis, that may be treated with kyphoplasty
- Spondylolisthesis — forward slippage of one vertebra over another causing nerve irritation and instability
Symptoms
- Dull, aching, or sharp pain in the lower back
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, standing, or bending forward
- Pain radiating into the buttock, hip, or down the leg (sciatica pattern)
- Stiffness and reduced range of motion, especially in the morning
- Muscle spasms around the lower back and pelvis
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot
When to See a Pain Specialist
Consider seeing Dr. Qureshi if your back pain has persisted for more than 6–8 weeks despite conservative care, is severe enough to limit daily activities, radiates into the leg with numbness or weakness, or recurs frequently. Certain "red flag" symptoms — including pain with unexplained weight loss, fever, or bladder and bowel changes — require immediate evaluation to rule out serious underlying conditions. Learn more about how to tell if your back pain is serious.
Diagnostic Approach
Dr. Qureshi begins every evaluation with a thorough history and physical examination, reviewing your imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT) himself rather than relying solely on radiology reports. When the pain source is unclear, diagnostic injections — such as medial branch blocks for facet joint pain, a diagnostic SI joint injection, or discography to identify disc-related pain sources — provide definitive confirmation. This precision diagnostic approach ensures resources are directed at the actual pain generator.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Dr. Qureshi offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based, non-surgical treatments tailored to the specific cause of your low back pain:
- Epidural steroid injections — for disc-related or nerve-related low back and leg pain; delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly to the compressed nerve root. Read about nonsurgical treatment options for herniated discs
- Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks — diagnostic and therapeutic injections for facet-mediated axial back pain
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — long-lasting relief (9–18 months) for confirmed facet joint arthritis by disabling the pain-transmitting nerve
- Sacroiliac joint injections — for SI joint dysfunction causing low back and buttock pain
- PRP therapy — regenerative platelet-rich plasma injections for degenerative disc and joint conditions
- Spinal cord stimulation — advanced neuromodulation for complex chronic low back pain unresponsive to other treatments
Choosing between interventional injections and surgical options can be difficult. Learn more about back pain surgery vs. injection therapy to understand which approach may be right for you.
Why Choose Dr. Qureshi for Low Back Pain
Dr. Qureshi is fellowship-trained in interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine with board certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He brings over six years of clinical experience treating thousands of patients with low back pain across Greater Houston. His approach combines precise diagnosis before treatment with fluoroscopic guidance for all spinal procedures, and an opioid-free philosophy built around addressing the structural cause of pain.