What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?

Acute back pain is short-term typically lasting days to a few weeks and usually resolves as the injured tissue heals. Chronic back pain is defined as pain lasting three months or longer. The distinction matters because chronic pain often requires a different treatment approach: rather than simply resting and waiting for healing, it typically needs targeted intervention to address the underlying structural or neurological cause.

When should I see a pain specialist for chronic back pain?

You should consider seeing a pain specialist if your back pain has persisted for more than six weeks without clear improvement, if it radiates into your legs or causes numbness or weakness, or if it is affecting your ability to work, sleep, or carry out daily activities. At MVM Health’s Bethlehem Pain Clinic and NJ locations, specialists can evaluate your symptoms and identify the specific cause before recommending treatment.

What are the most effective pain treatments for chronic back pain?

The most effective treatments depend on the underlying cause. For disc-related pain, epidural injections and regenerative therapies like PRP are often highly effective. For facet joint arthritis, radiofrequency ablation provides durable relief. Some cases of spinal stenosis may respond well to the MILD procedure. For complex or treatment-resistant cases, spinal cord stimulation is one of the most evidence-based options available. MVM Health offers all of these and builds individualized plans for each patient.

Can chronic back pain go away on its own?

Some cases of chronic back pain do improve over time, particularly when the cause is muscular and the person makes meaningful lifestyle changes such as improving posture, strengthening their core, and reducing prolonged sitting. However, structural causes of herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and facet arthritis rarely resolve without direct intervention. Waiting typically allows these conditions to progress, which makes treatment more complex and recovery longer.

Does MVM Health treat patients from New Jersey?

Yes. MVM Health serves patients as pain specialists in NJ from locations in Scotch Plains and Stanhope, in addition to multiple Pennsylvania clinic locations including Bethlehem, East Stroudsburg, King of Prussia, and Reading. Telehealth consultations are also available for patients who prefer a virtual first visit. Schedule an appointment with MVM Health to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.

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ALI AMIN, MD, FACS, FACC, RVT, FSVS

Dr. Ali Amin is a board-certified vascular surgeon with extensive experience in both open and minimally invasive endovascular procedures. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles at nationally recognized medical institutions and has been deeply involved in advancing vascular surgery through clinical excellence, education, and research.

The Expertise Behind Your Care

Dr. Amin’s medical training includes rigorous surgical residency and fellowship work that prepared him to manage both traditional open surgery and advanced minimally invasive endovascular procedures. His career has focused on delivering personalized, evidence-based vascular care for a wide range of conditions, from peripheral arterial disease and chronic limb threating ischemia to deep vein thrombosis and aneurysms.

Education
Services Offered
Treatments
Scholarship
Research Publications

Medical Education

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ Doctor of Medicine (MD), June 1988

Vascular Fellowship

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX Vascular Surgery Program (1993–1995) Chief Vascular Fellow (1994–1995)

Residency

Cooper Hospital / University Medical Center Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ Surgery Residency (PGY-1 to PGY-5, 1988–1993) Chief Surgical Resident (1992–1993)

Undergraduate Education

George Washington University, Washington, DC Bachelor of Science in Zoology (1979–1983)

Varicose Veins

Spider Veins

Vascular Ultrasound Reading

VEIN THERAPIES

Sclerotherapy
Endovenous Thermal Ablation (EVTA)
VenaSeal
ClariVein
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

Board Certified – Vascular Surgery

American Board of Surgery

Board Certified – General Surgery

American Board of Surgery (2014)

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

FACS

Fellow of the American College of Cardiology

FACC

Registered Vascular Technologist

ARDMS – RVT Certification

Advanced Endovascular Interventions

COOK, Gore, Endologix & Medtronic Endograft Training

Endograft Certifications

AneuRx & Endurant (Medtronic), Ancure (Guidant)

Advanced Operative Laparoscopy

General Surgery

Advanced Trauma Life Support

Provider & Instructor (Not Active)

Life Support Certifications

ACLS – Certified (Not Active)
BLS – Active

William Gray, Lawrence Garcia, Ali Amin, Nicolas Shammas.
Jetstream Atherectomy System Treatment of Femoropopliteal Arteries: Results of the Post-Market JET Registry.
J. of Cardiovascular Medicine 19 (2018) 506-511.

Daniel A Leung, Lawrence R Blitz, Teresa Nelson, Amin A, Peter A Soukas, Aravinda Nanjundappa, Mark J Garcia, Robert Lookstein, Eugene J Simoni.
Rheolytic Pharmacomechanical Thrombectomy for the Management of Acute Limb Ischemia: Results From the PEARL Registry.
Journal of Endovascular Therapy 2015, 22 (4): 546-57.

Garcia M, Lookstein R, Malhotra R, Amin A, Bilitz L, Leung D, Simoni E, Soukas P.
Endovascular Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis with Rheolytic Thrombectomy: Final Report of the Prospective Multicenter PEARL Registry.
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR). Vol 26, issue 6. June 2015.

AMIN A.
VEITHSymposium: A Wire and a Catheter: Techniques for Crossing Lower Extremity CTOs.
Cath Lab Digest Feb 2014.

AMIN A.
Carotid Artery Stenting; Technical Considerations.
Controversies And Updates In Vascular Surgery. Minerva Media, Torino 2012.

AMIN A.
Iliac Artery Occlusion.
Controversies And Updates In Vascular Surgery. Minerva Media, Torino 2011.

AMIN A.
Carotid Stenting.
Controversies And Updates In Vascular Surgery. Minerva Media, Torino 2010.

AMIN A.
Role of 5 French Destination Guiding Sheath in Endovascular Management of the Lower Extremity Arterial Occlusive Disease.
Vascular Disease Management, supp. April 2009.

AMIN A.
Commentary on “New Techniques and Developments of Stenting for Infrainguinal Arterial Occlusive Disease: Are the results any better than balloon angioplasty alone?”
Perspectives in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. September 2007.

AMIN A.
Brachiocephalic and Vertebral Arteriography.
Vascular Disease, January 2005; 14-19.

AMIN A, Alexander J, O’Malley K, and Doolin E.
Blunt Abdominal Aortic Trauma in Children: Case Report.
J. of Trauma, 1993; 293-296.

Atabek V, Mayer D, AMIN A, Camishion RC.
Pancreatic Cystogastrostomy by Combined Upper Endoscopy and Percutaneous Transgastric Instrumentation.
J. Lap End Surgery 1993; 3:501-4.

Schedule Your Vein Consultation with Ali Amin, MD

Get personalized vein care from Ali Amin, MD, a board-certified vascular surgeon with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of vein conditions. His approach combines advanced vascular expertise with individualized treatment plans designed around each patient’s needs.

Whether you are experiencing varicose veins, spider veins, leg swelling, heaviness, or symptoms related to venous insufficiency, Dr. Amin and the MVM Health team can help evaluate your condition and guide you toward appropriate treatment options.

Personalized Vein Treatment Plans

Minimally Invasive Vein Procedures

Convenient Appointment Scheduling

Multiple Locations Available

Take the first step toward healthier legs today. Complete the form to request your appointment.

Our Locations

Advanced Relief,
Close to Home

Find relief when and where you need it most, thanks to the several convenient locations MVM Health is proud to offer its patients.

View All Locations

Innovative and Comprehensive Care

Dr. Amin has served internationally as a visiting vascular surgeon and faculty member across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Australia, playing an active role in advancing endovascular education and contributing expertise in the management of complex vascular cases worldwide.

Headaches/Migraines
Muscle Pain
Neck Pain
Upper/Lower Back Pain
Upper/Lower Extremity Pain
Abdominal Pain
Pelvic Pain
Shoulder Pain
Hip Pain
Knee Pain
Vertebral Compression

Varicose Vein
Pain After Surgery
Neuropathy
Cancer Pain
Complex Pain
Pain Syndrome
Generalized Body Pain
Work Related Injury
Sports Injury
Motor Vehicle Accident
Fractures

Personalized, Minimally Invasive Vein Care

Most vein procedures today don’t require open surgery. Dr. Amin will walk you through which minimally invasive option fits your case, what recovery looks like, and what results you can realistically expect.

Success Stories

" Dr. Ali Amin is an exceptional physician. He took the time to explain the source of my pain. He educated me regarding my options and took the time to explain both conservative and interventional options for my pain. He did not pressure me to make any decision and he uses scientific evidence for his suggestion. Great doctor. Will send my friends to him."

"Dr. Ali Amin is the best Doctor I have ever been to!!! ❤️"

"Had injection for SI joint. Was in pain prior to the injection and now have no pain. Dr Ali is very gentle and cares about how you feel. Have to go back next week for another injection."

" Great appointment. They listened to me , talked about treatment options. Dr. Ali Amin was understanding, and just a great person. I highly recommend this practice to anyone needing pain management."

"Dr. Amin treated my dad with respect and was the only dr tht gave him the time of day to get better highly recommend"

"Dr. Orhurhu is absolutely amazing! He is the most knowledgeable and personable doctor I have met in a long while. His diagnosis and treatment of my chronic back pain involved him listening to me and proposing a pain management plan that incorporated PT and my PCP. I am very impressed with his ability to listen and his extensive knowledge about how the body functions. I am recommending him to everyone I know that is dealing with pain management issues."

A Vision for Better Vein Health

Dr. Ali Amin is dedicated to helping patients understand and manage vein conditions through personalized, evidence-based care. With extensive experience in vascular surgery and minimally invasive techniques, he focuses on identifying the underlying causes of vein concerns and developing treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs. For individuals dealing with varicose veins, spider veins, leg swelling, or venous insufficiency, Dr. Amin provides expert guidance focused on improving circulation, comfort, and overall quality of life.