Motionis

Back Pain Treatment in Brooklyn, NY

Back pain can originate from the spine, joints, nerves, muscles, or supporting soft tissues—and symptoms often overlap. Accurate diagnosis is essential before selecting treatment. At Motionis Medicine, back pain is evaluated through a physician-led, diagnosis-first approach focused on identifying the primary pain generator and guiding appropriate non-surgical care.

Care is led by Dr. Tanuj Palvia, MD, a board-certified interventional pain medicine physician with over 15 years of experience in image-guided spine care.

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What Is Back Pain?

Back pain refers to discomfort arising from structures in the lumbar or thoracic spine, including intervertebral discs, facet joints, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and surrounding soft tissues. It may present as localized aching or stiffness, sharp or intermittent pain, muscle spasm, or pain that worsens with certain movements or positions.

Back pain may be:

Acute

following strain or injury

Subacute

persisting beyond expected healing

Chronic

lasting longer than three months or recurring over time

Understanding why pain is occurring is critical to choosing effective treatment.

Common Back Pain Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause and may include:

Because symptoms can overlap across conditions, further evaluation is often required.

Localized lower or mid-back pain

Stiffness or reduced range of motion

Muscle tightness or spasm

Pain worsened by bending or lifting

Radiating pain into the hips or legs

Pain fluctuates with activity or posture

Common Causes of Back Pain We Evaluate

Back pain often involves more than one structure. Common contributors include:

Disc-related conditions (bulging, herniated, or degenerative discs)

Facet joint arthritis or inflammation

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction

Muscle strain, spasm, or myofascial pain

Spinal stenosis or age-related degeneration

Nerve irritation or compression

Spondylolisthesis or spinal instability

Postural or biomechanical stress

Imaging findings alone do not always explain symptoms, which is why clinical correlation is essential.

How Back Pain Is Evaluated

Evaluation focuses on identifying the primary pain generator, not simply treating symptoms. A physician-led assessment may include:

Detailed clinical history and physical examination

Review of prior imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray), when available

Functional assessment of movement and stability

Image-guided diagnostic injections, when appropriate, to confirm pain sources

This process helps distinguish between disc-related pain, joint-mediated pain, nerve involvement, and muscle-driven symptoms—allowing for more targeted care.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Back Pain

Treatment recommendations depend on diagnosis, symptom severity, and patient goals. Non-surgical options may include:

Image-guided epidural steroid injections

Facet joint injections or medial branch nerve blocks

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for chronic facet-mediated pain

Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections

Trigger point injections for muscle-related pain

Targeted rehabilitation and recovery planning

Regenerative and non-surgical orthopedic options, when appropriate

All procedures are performed under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance for precision and safety and are selected as part of a broader care plan.

When a Specialist Evaluation May Help

You may benefit from a specialist evaluation if:

Back pain has lasted longer than expected

Physical therapy or medications have not provided sufficient relief

Imaging shows “wear and tear,” but surgery is unclear or undesired

Pain interferes with work, sleep, or daily activity

Symptoms are recurring or progressively worsening

A comprehensive evaluation can help clarify the cause of pain and outline appropriate next steps.

Schedule a Back Pain Evaluation

If back pain is limiting your movement or quality of life, a comprehensive evaluation can help clarify your options and determine the most appropriate non-surgical care