What's actually causing your pain?
Lower back pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The first job is figuring out which structure is actually generating the pain — because the right treatment depends on the right answer.
The most common culprits we see at our Oklahoma clinics:
- Disc problems — herniation, bulge, or degenerative disc disease compressing nearby nerves
- Facet joint pain — small spinal joints that wear down and become inflamed
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction — pain at the base of the spine where it meets the pelvis
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal that pinches nerves, often worse with walking
- Muscle and ligament strain — usually short-lived, but can become chronic if untreated
- Failed back surgery syndrome — persistent pain after a spine procedure
Important: Imaging alone doesn't tell the whole story. Plenty of people have herniated discs on MRI and zero pain. We treat the patient, not the scan.
Warning signs you shouldn't ignore
Call us — or seek emergency care — if you have any of these:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin or inner thighs ("saddle anesthesia")
- Sudden, severe weakness in one or both legs
- Back pain after a significant fall, accident, or trauma
- Unexplained weight loss, fever, or night sweats with back pain
- Pain that wakes you up at night and doesn't ease with position changes
These are uncommon, but they matter. Most patients who walk through our door have none of them — and we can usually offer real relief without surgery.
How we approach treatment
We work in a stepwise way: start with the least invasive option that has a real chance of working, and only escalate if it doesn't. That usually looks like:
Targeted Diagnosis
A focused exam, your history, and the right imaging — only the imaging that will actually change what we do.
Conservative Care First
Medication optimization, coordinated physical therapy, chiropractic when appropriate, and behavioral pain support.
Interventional Procedures
Image-guided injections, nerve blocks, or radiofrequency ablation — precise, outpatient, and often dramatically effective.
Advanced Therapies
For pain that hasn't responded to other approaches: spinal cord stimulation and regenerative options.
Surgical Referral — Only When Truly Indicated
If surgery is the right call, we'll say so and connect you with a trusted spine surgeon. Most patients never get here.
Treatments we use for lower back pain
- Epidural Steroid Injections — for nerve-related pain like sciatica
- Facet Joint Injections / Medial Branch Blocks — for joint-driven pain
- Radiofrequency Ablation — long-lasting relief by quieting specific pain nerves
- Spinal Cord Stimulation — for chronic pain that hasn't responded to other treatment
- Regenerative Therapies — biologic options that work with your body's own repair
- Coordinated Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care
Frequently asked questions
Will I need an MRI?
Maybe — but probably not on day one. We only order imaging if it will actually change what we recommend. Many patients get significant relief before any MRI is ever done.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare. Call us at 405-444-7246 and we'll verify your specific plan before your appointment.
How quickly can I be seen?
Most new patients are scheduled within a week. If your situation is urgent, tell our team when you call and we'll do our best to fit you in sooner.
Is the goal to get me off pain medication?
For most patients, yes — though our real goal is to get you back to your life. Sometimes that means using medication strategically; often it means replacing it with more durable interventional options.