Back Pain: Causes, Treatment & When to See a Spine Surgeon

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through its outer fibrous ring and irritates or compresses a nearby nerve. It is one of the most common causes of neck and back pain, arm pain, leg pain, and sciatica — and responds well to both conservative and surgical treatment in the right patients.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a symptom — not a diagnosis — describing pain that travels along the sciatic nerve from the low back through the buttock and down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. It is almost always caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis compressing the nerve root, and it responds well to treatment when the underlying cause is correctly identified.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. In the lumbar spine, it causes leg pain, heaviness, and cramping with walking — known as neurogenic claudication. In the cervical spine, it can compress the spinal cord and affect balance, coordination, and hand dexterity.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. This slippage can compress nerve roots, cause spinal instability, and produce back pain and leg symptoms. It ranges from mild (Grade I) to severe (Grades III–IV), with surgical treatment typically reserved for patients who fail conservative care.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease describes the gradual breakdown of the spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae. As discs lose height, flexibility, and water content with age, they can cause chronic neck or back pain, stiffness, and — when they compress adjacent nerves — radiating arm or leg symptoms. Though common, it is manageable with the right treatment approach.

SI Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction is a frequently overlooked cause of low back and buttock pain, arising from the joint that connects the spine to the pelvis. Because its symptoms overlap with lumbar disc and hip problems, accurate diagnosis is essential — and when confirmed, SI joint pain responds well to targeted treatment including minimally invasive fusion.

Vertebral Compression Fracture

A vertebral compression fracture occurs when one of the spinal vertebrae collapses, most commonly from osteoporosis. These fractures cause sudden, severe back pain and can lead to progressive spinal deformity if untreated. Many patients experience dramatic relief with kyphoplasty — a minimally invasive procedure performed by Dr. Chavarria.