Back Pain Treatment in Lafayette, LA
Back pain can interfere with walking, working, sleeping, exercising, and completing ordinary daily activities. At Interventional Pain Specialists in Lafayette, our team evaluates the possible source of your pain and develops a personalized treatment plan based on your symptoms, medical history, diagnostic findings, and goals.
Led by Albert Gros, Jr., MD, a double board-certified specialist in anesthesiology and pain medicine, we provide minimally invasive, image-guided options for qualifying patients with persistent spine, disc, joint, and nerve-related pain.
Back Pain Care at Our Lafayette Clinic
Interventional Pain Specialists ā Lafayette
1101 S. College Rd., Suite 200
Lafayette, LA
Phone: (337) 362-8101
Our Lafayette pain management clinic helps patients with persistent lower, middle, or upper back pain, including symptoms that radiate into the buttocks or legs.
Treatment begins by determining which structures may be contributing to the pain. Similar symptoms can arise from different conditions, so an accurate evaluation is important before recommending an injection or other interventional procedure.
When Should You See a Back Pain Specialist?
Many episodes of uncomplicated back pain improve with time and appropriate conservative care. A specialist evaluation may be appropriate when pain:
- Continues or repeatedly returns
- Interferes with sleep, work, or mobility
- Travels from the back into the buttock or leg
- Causes numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness
- Persists despite physical therapy or other initial treatment
- Develops after an injury
- Continues after previous spine surgery
- Makes standing or walking increasingly difficult
- Prevents you from returning to normal activities
If you experience sudden loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive leg weakness, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs, seek emergency medical care immediately rather than scheduling a routine appointment.
Back pain that lasts for several weeks does not automatically mean you need an invasive procedure. The purpose of an evaluation is to identify the likely pain source and determine which next steps are medically appropriate.
What Can Cause Back Pain?
Back pain is a symptom rather than a single diagnosis. It may involve muscles, discs, spinal joints, vertebrae, ligaments, or nerves.
Herniated or Bulging Discs
Spinal discs cushion the vertebrae. If a disc bulges, tears, or herniates, it may irritate a nearby nerve and cause back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Not every disc abnormality seen on an MRI causes symptoms. The imaging findings must be considered alongside the patient's pain pattern and physical examination.
Facet Joint Pain
Facet joints connect the vertebrae and help guide spinal movement. Arthritis, inflammation, injury, or degeneration in these joints may cause localized pain and stiffness. Facet-related pain may worsen when standing for extended periods, twisting, or leaning backward. Diagnostic medial branch blocks can help determine whether the facet joints are contributing to symptoms.
Sciatica and Nerve Root Irritation
Sciatica usually refers to pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve from the lower back or buttock into the leg. It may also involve burning, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Possible causes include a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or another condition that compresses or irritates a spinal nerve.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs when the space around the spinal nerves becomes narrowed. Symptoms may include back pain, leg heaviness, numbness, weakness, or discomfort that worsens while standing or walking. Some patients feel better when sitting or leaning forward.
Vertebrogenic Back Pain
In some patients, chronic lower back pain may originate from damaged vertebral endplates. This is sometimes called vertebrogenic pain and may be associated with specific changes visible on MRI. The Intracept procedure is designed for carefully selected patients whose symptoms and imaging findings meet the required criteria.
Pain After Spine Surgery
Some patients continue to experience back or leg pain after previous spine surgery. Persistent symptoms may be related to nerve damage, scar tissue, recurrent disc problems, adjacent spinal changes, or another unresolved pain source. Our team focuses on identifying the specific source of continuing pain before recommending further treatment.
Symptoms That May Accompany Back Pain
Back pain can present differently from one person to another. Symptoms may include:
- Dull or aching pain
- Sharp or stabbing pain
- Burning discomfort
- Back stiffness
- Muscle spasms
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Pain after sitting or standing
- Pain extending into the buttock or leg
- Numbness or tingling
- Leg or foot weakness
- Difficulty walking or standing for long periods
The location and character of the symptoms can provide useful clues, but they do not confirm the diagnosis on their own. Chronic lower back pain may be aching, sharp, burning, or accompanied by weakness or leg symptoms.
How We Evaluate Back Pain
Effective treatment begins with understanding the nature and possible source of the pain.
Symptom Review
Your provider may ask where the pain is located, when it began, and whether it started after an injury. They may also ask whether it travels into the buttock or leg, and whether numbness, tingling, or weakness are present. You may also be asked what treatments you've already tried and how the pain is affecting your daily life.
Medical History
The team may also review your previous injuries, surgeries, and health conditions. This includes any medications, physical therapy, injections, or other treatments you've undergone.
Physical Examination
During the exam, your provider may assess your range of motion, strength, reflexes, sensation, and tenderness. They may also evaluate your walking pattern and any positions or movements that reproduce your symptoms.
Review of Imaging
Existing X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, or reports may be reviewed when relevant. Imaging findings must be matched with the patient's symptoms, since structural changes do not always explain the pain. Imaging decisions depend on the symptoms, duration, examination findings, and whether the patient may be a candidate for an intervention.
Diagnostic Procedures
Some image-guided procedures can help determine whether a particular joint or nerve is responsible for the pain. For example, temporary relief after a medial branch block may suggest that the facet joints are contributing to the symptoms.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Once the likely pain source is identified, your provider discusses the findings and available treatment options with you. Recommendations are based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and overall goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Back Pain Treatment Options in Lafayette
The appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the pain. Not every patient needs an injection or procedure, and no single treatment works for every type of back pain. We focus on minimally invasive, image-guided procedures designed to target suspected spine, nerve, and joint pain sources.
Epidural Steroid Injections
An epidural steroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space surrounding spinal nerves. It may be considered when back pain is associated with nerve irritation, disc herniation, radicular pain, sciatica, or pain extending into the leg. The goal is to reduce inflammation around the affected nerve, not to repair the disc itself.
Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections place medication directly into the small joints located along the spine. They may be considered when pain appears to originate from irritated, arthritic, or injured facet joints.
Medial Branch Blocks
Medial branch blocks temporarily numb the nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints. They are commonly used to help determine whether facet joints are the source of persistent back pain and whether the patient may benefit from radiofrequency ablation.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled heat to interrupt pain signals from selected nerves. It may be considered when diagnostic blocks indicate that facet-related nerves are contributing to chronic back pain.
Selective Nerve Root Blocks
A selective nerve root block targets medication around a particular spinal nerve. The procedure may help identify the nerve responsible for symptoms and may reduce inflammation associated with radiating leg pain.
Intracept Procedure
Intracept targets the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body. It may be considered for selected patients with chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain and qualifying vertebral endplate changes on MRI.
MILD Procedure
The MILD procedure may be considered for qualifying patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication. It removes small amounts of tissue contributing to spinal canal narrowing through a minimally invasive approach.
VIA Disc Allograft Injections
VIA Disc is intended for carefully selected patients with certain forms of disc-related lower back pain. A complete evaluation is needed to determine whether the symptoms, diagnostic findings, and treatment history support its use.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation uses a small implanted device to modify pain-signal transmission. It may be considered for selected patients with persistent neuropathic pain, including some individuals who continue to experience pain after spine surgery.
A Personalized Approach to Back Pain
Two people may describe similar lower back pain but have different underlying conditions. For example:
- One patient may have nerve irritation from a disc problem.
- Another may have pain arising from spinal facet joints.
- Another may have lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Another may have vertebrogenic pain.
- Another may have persistent neuropathic pain after surgery.
Treating every patient with the same injection would not address these differences. Our approach is to evaluate the pain pattern, examination findings, previous treatment, and available imaging before recommending a targeted option.
Why Choose Interventional Pain Specialists for Back Pain Treatment in Lafayette?
- Specialized Pain Management Experience
Dr. Albert Gros has more than two decades of experience in anesthesiology and interventional pain management and is double board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine. - Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
We provide image-guided procedures intended to target specific spine, joint, and nerve-related pain sources. - Individualized Recommendations
Treatment plans are based on the patient’s symptoms, diagnosis, medical history, previous care, and functional goals. - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
Certain procedures can help provide relief while also supplying information about which structure is responsible for the pain. - Focus on Mobility and Daily Function
Pain relief is important, but treatment also focuses on helping patients move more comfortably and participate more fully in everyday activities. - Convenient Lafayette Clinic
Patients can receive a pain management evaluation at 1101 S. College Rd., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA.
Meet Albert Gros, Jr., MD
Anesthesiology and Pain Management Specialist
Dr. Albert Gros, Jr. has more than two decades of experience in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine.
He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his anesthesiology residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. His experience includes targeted treatments for spine, nerve, and joint-related pain.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
To help the team understand your symptoms and treatment history, bring:
- Photo identification & insurance card
- Current medication list
- Relevant medical records
- MRI, CT, or X-ray reports (and copies of imaging, if available)
- Physical therapy records
- Details of previous injections or prior spine surgery
- Referral or authorization documents, if required
- Questions you’d like to discuss
Insurance Information
We accept most insurance providers, including:
Coverage, referrals, prior authorization, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses vary by plan. Contact the Lafayette office and your insurance provider before treatment to confirm your benefits.
Lafayette office: (337) 362-8101
When Back Pain Requires Urgent Medical Attention
A routine pain-management appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. Seek immediate medical attention for back pain accompanied by symptoms such as:
- New loss of bladder or bowel control
- Inability to urinate
- Rapidly worsening leg weakness
- Numbness around the groin or pelvic region
- Difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Severe pain after a serious fall or accident
- Fever with back pain
- Back pain with a known history of cancer
- Severe pain with other concerning systemic symptoms
Loss of bladder or bowel function combined with significant neurological weakness can indicate cauda equina syndrome or another serious spinal condition requiring urgent evaluation.
What Our Patients Say
Professional Associations And Memberships
Schedule a Back Pain Evaluation in Lafayette
Persistent back pain can make even ordinary activities difficult. An appropriate evaluation can help determine whether your symptoms arise from a disc, spinal joint, irritated nerve, vertebral structure, or another condition. Contact Interventional Pain Specialists in Lafayette to discuss your symptoms and explore an individualized care plan.
Interventional Pain Specialists ā Lafayette
1101 S. College Rd., Suite 200
Lafayette, LA
Phone: (337) 362-8101
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of doctor should I see for persistent back pain?
A pain management specialist evaluates persistent back pain and determines whether it involves the spinal joints, discs, nerves, vertebrae, or other structures. Patients with progressive neurological symptoms or conditions requiring surgery may also need evaluation by a spine surgeon or another appropriate specialist.
What is the best treatment for lower back pain?
There is no single best treatment for every patient. The right approach depends on the cause of the pain, its duration, whether nerve symptoms are present, your medical history, previous treatments, and examination findings.
Can a pain management doctor treat sciatica?
Yes. Pain management specialists evaluate sciatica and related nerve symptoms. Depending on the cause, treatment options may include conservative care, epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, or other targeted interventional treatments.
Does a bulging disc always cause back pain?
No. Some bulging discs cause symptoms, while others are found on imaging in people without pain. A provider must determine whether the location of the disc abnormality matches your symptoms and examination findings.
Does Interventional Pain Specialists offer back injections in Lafayette?
We offer procedures for eligible patients with back pain, including epidural steroid injections, facet injections, medial branch blocks, and selective nerve root blocks. Contact the Lafayette office to schedule an evaluation and discuss whether a procedure is appropriate for your condition.
Can radiofrequency ablation help lower back pain?
Radiofrequency ablation may help selected patients whose pain is transmitted through targeted nerves, particularly those associated with painful facet joints. Diagnostic medial branch blocks are generally used to determine whether these nerves are contributing to the pain before treatment is recommended.
Can you help if back surgery did not relieve my pain?
We evaluate patients with persistent pain following spine surgery. Treatment depends on the underlying source of the pain and may include targeted procedures or spinal cord stimulation for appropriately selected patients.
Will I need an MRI before treatment?
Not every patient requires immediate imaging. Whether an MRI or another imaging study is needed depends on your symptoms, how long they have been present, examination findings, previous care, and the treatment being considered.
Do I need a referral?
Referral and authorization requirements vary by insurance plan. Contact the Lafayette office or your insurance provider to confirm whether a referral or prior authorization is needed.
How do I schedule a back pain appointment in Lafayette?
Call (337) 362-8101 or complete the online appointment request form to schedule your consultation.