Low Back Pain

If you live with low back pain, you’re not alone. Low back pain is the most prevalent type of chronic pain in American adults. At her private practice in Napa, California, Dr. Weisbein provides customized, multimodal treatments to reduce or eliminate lower back pain, ranging from physical therapy and epidural injections to spinal cord stimulators. Don’t let pain interfere with your life anymore.

What are common causes of low back pain?

Your lower back is like the foundation of your body. Your lumbar spine extends from your hips and pelvis to support your trunk, arms, and head. It provides a center of balance, while also absorbing shock from every step you take. It’s no wonder that the most common causes of this type of pain include muscle and connective tissue injuries as well as degeneration in your lumbar vertebrae and their cushioning discs.

Common problems include:

  • Muscle strains

  • Ligament and tendon tears

  • Herniated discs

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Osteoarthritis

Whether you spend your day moving heavy objects, walking around a classroom or hospital, or sitting at a desk working feverishly on a computer, your lower back bears the brunt of your routine. You can injure your back with too much activity, or a lack of movement can weaken your back and core, making you vulnerable to injuries from less vigorous actions.

How is low back pain diagnosed?

Dr. Weisbein provides comprehensive exams to identify the cause of your back pain. After going over your medical history and talking to you about your symptoms, health, and lifestyle, she checks your body for signs of deformity, inflammation, and other issues that contribute to pain in your lower back. She asks you to move through some stretches to gauge your pain and range of motion, and check for signs of nerve compression.

Dr. Weisbein also orders diagnostic imaging studies like MRIs and X-rays, as well as nerve function studies, to gather more information to inform her diagnosis.

What type of treatment options are available?

Dr. Weisbein creates customized multimodal treatment plans to address your pain. Your treatment plan may include:

  • Physical therapy

  • Medication

  • Nerve blocks

  • Radiofrequency neurotomy

  • Spinal cord stimulators

  • Intrathecal pain pumps

  • Dorsal column stimulation

  • Sacroiliac joint fusion

If back pain is interfering with your quality of life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Weisbein. To schedule a new patient appointment, please call (707) 254-7117 or submit an Online Appointment Request here: New Patient Intake Form. If you are an existing patient, please call (707) 603-1078.