Spine Pain
Spine pain can show up as a stiff neck, an ache between your shoulder blades or a sharp pain in your lower back that makes it hard to sit, bend or sleep. Whatever the location, the first step is finding where the pain actually starts. At MVM Health, our pain specialists evaluate the whole spine and focus on non-surgical treatment that helps you move more comfortably.
Book a visit with a pain specialist near you at one of our clinics in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Arizona.
Meet Our Expert Team
Board Certified Expert
At MVM Health — Movement. Vitality. Medicine. — we are committed to providing exceptional pain, vein, and wellness services that empower individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. With our team of Harvard-trained experts, we strive to deliver transformative outcomes that restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life. MVM Health’s mission is to help every patient relieve discomfort, restore motion, and renew life.
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
TARIQ ALFARRA, DO
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
Rishi Sheth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Carrie Ward, CNP
Franklin University
Kruti Solanki, CNP
Drexel University
Christy Daniels, CNP
Chamberlain University
Heerina Kittel, CNP
Maryville University
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
Rishi Seth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
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What Is Spine Pain?
Your spine is a column of 33 small bones (vertebrae) cushioned by discs and held together by joints, ligaments and muscles. Nerves branch out from the spinal cord to every part of your body. Spine pain can start in any of these structures: the muscles, discs, joints, bones or nerves.
Acute vs. chronic. Acute spine pain, often from a strain or awkward movement, usually improves within a few days to a few weeks. Pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic and is more often linked to disc problems, arthritis or a narrowing of the spinal canal.
Axial vs. radiating. Axial spine pain stays in one area of the neck or back. Radiating pain travels away from the spine, into an arm or leg, and usually means a nerve is irritated or pinched.
Where Is Your Spine Pain?
The direct cause is weak or damaged vein valves. Several things can wear those valves down over time:
Neck (cervical spine)
Cervical spine pain is felt in the neck and may spread to the shoulders, upper back or arms. It’s often linked to posture, disc wear or arthritis, and can cause headaches at the base of the skull. Learn more about neck pain.
Mid-back (thoracic spine)
Thoracic spine pain sits between the base of your neck and the bottom of your ribcage. It may feel like a dull ache or sharp pain between the shoulder blades, and sometimes wraps around to the ribs. Long hours at a desk, poor posture, muscle strain and compression fractures are common causes. Because the thoracic spine is more stable than the neck or lower back, persistent pain here deserves a careful evaluation.
Lower back (lumbar spine)
Lumbar spine pain is the most common type. It often worsens when bending, lifting or sitting for a long time, and may spread to the hips, buttocks or legs. Learn more about back pain.
Bottom of the spine (sacroiliac joints and tailbone)
Pain at the very base of the spine, especially when sitting or standing up, can come from the sacroiliac (SI) joints that connect the spine to the pelvis.
Common Causes of Spine Pain
Muscle or ligament strain
Muscle pain along the spine often follows heavy lifting, sudden movements or poor posture.
Herniated disc
Discs can bulge, tear or thin with age and press on nearby nerves.
Spinal arthritis
Osteoarthritis or arthritis in the small facet joints causes stiffness and aching, often worse in the morning.
Spinal stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal can squeeze nerves and cause pain, numbness or weakness in the legs.
Sciatica and pinched nerves
Irritated nerve roots send pain into an arm or leg.
Car accidents and injuries
Whiplash, falls and sports injuries can strain muscles, damage discs or, less often, fracture a vertebra.
Compression fractures
Weakened bones from osteoporosis can collapse, causing sudden mid- or lower-back pain.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Inflammation or uneven movement in the SI joints causes pain at the base of the spine and buttocks.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop spine pain, but it’s more likely if you:
- Are over age 40, when discs and joints naturally begin to wear
- Sit for long hours, especially with poor posture
- Lift, bend or twist often at work
- Carry extra body weight, which adds load to the spine
- Smoke, which reduces blood flow to spinal discs
- Have had a previous back injury or spine surgery
- Have a family history of arthritis or disc problems
Symptoms of Spine Pain
- Aching, stiffness or sharp pain anywhere along the spine
- Pain that gets worse when bending, lifting, twisting or sitting
- Pain that spreads into the shoulders, arms, hips or legs
- Numbness, tingling or a burning feeling along a nerve path
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Muscle spasms or tightness along the spine
- Trouble standing up straight, walking or sleeping comfortably
When Spine Pain Needs Urgent Care
Most spine pain isn’t an emergency. Get urgent medical care if your pain comes with:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Weakness in a leg or arm that is getting worse
- Fever, chills or feeling generally unwell
- A history of cancer, or unexplained weight loss
- Severe pain after a car accident, fall or other injury
- Chest pain or trouble breathing (call 911)
These signs can point to infection, a fracture, nerve compression or another condition that needs prompt attention.
Book a pain evaluation
Spine Pain Treatment Options
Spine pain management starts with the least invasive options and steps up only when needed. Most people with spine pain never need surgery.
Conservative care
Physical therapy, guided exercise, activity changes and medication guidance are often the first steps, especially for strains and early disc problems.
Anti-inflammatory medicine is placed near irritated spinal nerves to ease pain that radiates into an arm or leg, such as from a herniated disc or stenosis.
Facet joint injections and nerve blocks
Medicine is placed in or near the small joints of the spine to ease arthritis pain. A positive response also helps confirm where the pain starts.
Controlled heat quiets the small nerves that carry pain signals from arthritic spine joints. It’s often considered after a successful nerve block.
A small device sends mild electrical pulses that change how pain signals reach the brain. It’s used for long-term pain that hasn’t responded to other care, and it starts with a short trial.
Platelets from your own blood may support healing in some joint and soft-tissue conditions. Your provider will tell you whether it’s a reasonable option for you.
Kyphoplasty, MILD® and basivertebral nerve ablation For specific conditions, such as compression fractures, lumbar stenosis or certain chronic low back pain, these minimally invasive procedures may be considered.
Your provider recommends treatment based on the source of your pain, your health and your goals. Results vary from person to person.
Easing Spine Pain at Home
For mild spine pain without warning signs, these steps can help while you heal or wait for your appointment:
If home care hasn’t helped after a couple of weeks, it’s time to see a specialist.
Stay gently active. Short walks, gentle yoga and stretching usually help more than bed rest.
Use heat or ice. Ice can calm a new strain, and heat can relax tight muscles.
Try over-the-counter relief carefully. Pain relievers and topical creams may help for a short time. Follow the label and check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines.
Sleep in a supportive position. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with a pillow under your knees, can ease pressure. A pillow that keeps your neck level helps neck and upper spine pain.
Set up your workspace. Keep your screen at eye level and take a short movement break every hour.
Keep a healthy weight. Less weight means less load on your spine. For some patients, a provider-guided medical weight loss program becomes part of their plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many cases of acute spine pain, such as a muscle strain, improve on their own within a few days to a few weeks. Pain that lasts longer than a few weeks, keeps returning or spreads into an arm or leg is worth having evaluated, because conditions like disc problems or arthritis often need targeted care.
See a doctor right away if spine pain comes with fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, worsening weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Severe pain after a car accident or fall also needs prompt care. For pain that lingers more than a few weeks, book an evaluation.
Thoracic spine pain, felt in the mid-back between the shoulder blades, is often caused by poor posture, long hours sitting, muscle strain or arthritis. Less often, it comes from a compression fracture or a pinched nerve that can send pain around to the ribs. Persistent mid-back pain should be checked by a specialist.
Yes, problems in the neck (cervical spine) can cause headaches that start at the base of the skull, and some people notice dizziness with neck pain. Because dizziness has many possible causes, it’s important to have it evaluated rather than assume it’s spine-related.
Irritated nerves in the mid-back can sometimes send pain around the ribs to the chest or upper abdomen. However, chest pain can also be a sign of a heart problem. If you have chest pain with shortness of breath, sweating or nausea, call 911 first.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) uses parts of your own blood to support healing and may help some joint and soft-tissue conditions. Research on PRP for spine pain is still growing, and results vary. Your provider can tell you whether it’s a reasonable option for your condition.
Bending and sitting put extra pressure on the discs in your lower back. Pain with these movements is common with disc problems, muscle strain or sacroiliac joint issues. If it keeps happening, an evaluation can find the exact source.
It can be. Even a low-speed accident can strain neck and back muscles, injure discs or, less often, fracture a vertebra. Seek urgent care right after a crash if pain is severe, and see a specialist if pain, stiffness or numbness lingers in the days or weeks that follow.
Spine pain management is care focused on finding the source of your pain and relieving it, usually without surgery. It can include physical therapy, medication guidance, injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation and, for long-term pain, spinal cord stimulation.
Chiropractors focus on spinal adjustments and manual therapy. Pain specialists are medical doctors and nurse practitioners who can diagnose the cause of pain, order imaging and offer medical treatments such as injections and nerve procedures. If your pain hasn’t improved, spreads into a limb or causes numbness or weakness, a pain specialist can help.
Yes. Physical therapy is often one of the first treatments for spine pain. It strengthens the muscles that support your spine, improves flexibility and teaches safer ways to move. It’s also helpful after injections or procedures to help relief last longer.
MVM Health has clinics in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Arizona. Request an appointment online or call your nearest clinic, and our team will check your insurance and confirm a time for your spine pain evaluation.
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