Chronic Spine and Back Pain

The expert doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center specialize in comprehensively evaluating and delivering proven therapies to patients suffering from chronic pain, including neuropathic pain and back pain. 

The Eugene McDermott Center for Pain Management at UT Southwestern is recognized as one of the nation’s leading centers for advanced therapies to treat chronic pain.

At the Spine Center, our multidisciplinary approach provides patients access – with one call – to neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, physiatrists, and pain management specialists. We offer both interventional pain procedures as well as non-interventional treatments.

When Is Spine and Back Pain Chronic?

Spine and back pain that lasts longer than six months is called chronic pain. It can range from annoying to debilitating.

We partner with our patients experiencing chronic pain and get them back to health as soon as possible, with the best outcomes.

Diagnosis


If a patient has chronic back or spine pain, we’ll conduct a physical examination and order additional testing if needed. This thorough evaluation helps us create a treatment plan tailored for each patient.

Tests, procedures, and spine imaging studies used to diagnose chronic pain can include:

• X-rays
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
  
• Computed tomography (CT)
  
• Myelography 
  
• Electromyography/nerve conduction study (EMG/NCS)
  

Treatment for Chronic Spine and Back Pain


After diagnosis, we’ll discuss our recommended treatments with the patient. Treatment is aimed at relieving pain, improving physical function, and reducing pain-associated psychological distress.

Therapies include:

• Spinal injections, such as epidurals, facet blocks, and selective nerve root blocks
  
• Biofeedback
  

We’ll create a comprehensive treatment plan that helps patients achieve the maximum relief from their symptoms.

Clinical Trials

As an academic medical center, we’re at the forefront of spine research. Our patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials aimed at improving the treatment of back and spine conditions such as chronic pain.

Talk with your doctor to see if a clinical trial might be right for you.