Skip to main content

Back Pain Specialist

Bluffs Pain Management

Pain Management located in Council Bluffs, IA

Back pain is one of the most common reasons Americans seek medical treatment. At Bluffs Pain Management, Andrew Huff, MD, specializes in conservative therapies to relieve chronic back pain from injuries and degenerative diseases. Dr. Huff helps you achieve long-term pain relief with minimally invasive injections, nerve blocks, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, so you can avoid surgery. He also coordinates physical therapy and behavioral therapy services to keep you physically and emotionally healthy. Call the Council Bluffs, Iowa, pain management office to schedule an appointment, or book one online today.

 Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

Acute back pain describes pain that is temporary, lasting only a few weeks before resolving. This type of back pain typically results from overuse strains in the muscles that support your spine.

Conversely, chronic back pain lasts longer than six months. This type of pain may be the result of injuries to the spine or degenerative spine conditions. Some common causes of chronic back pain include:

  • Sciatica
  • Fractures
  • Herniated discs
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Spinal stenosis

A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking can also contribute to chronic back pain and increase your risk for disability from back pain.

How is back pain diagnosed?

To uncover the underlying cause of your back pain, Bluffs Pain Management offers on-site diagnostic testing services, including X-rays and other imaging tests.

Dr. Huff spends time reviewing your personal and family medical histories. He also discusses your symptoms and performs a physical exam. During the exam, he assesses the flexibility and range of motion you have in your spine.

Based on the results of your testing, Dr. Huff creates a treatment plan to minimize your pain and control your chronic pain in the long term.

How is back pain treated?

Bluffs Pain Management offers a variety of conservative therapies to relieve your pain and prevent the need for surgery. When you find pain relief, your spine has a greater opportunity to heal itself.

Common treatments Dr. Huff uses to treat chronic back pain include:

  • Facet blocks
  • Steroid injections
  • Trigger point injections
  • Nerve root and intercostal blocks
  • Stellate ganglion blocks
  • Peripheral nerve blocks
  • Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar epidural injections
  • Basivertebral nerve ablations ( Intracept )
  • MILD procedure
  • Vertiflex
  • Minuteman
  • Sacroiliac joint fusion
  • Short and long term peripheral nerve stimulation

You may also be a candidate for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. This treatment involves injections of PRP that come from your own blood and has a high concentration of growth factors. These growth factors can speed up your natural healing processes to address damage in your spine from disease or injury.

Can physical therapy improve chronic back pain?

Bluffs Pain Management also values the benefits of physical therapy for people who have chronic back pain. Therapeutic exercises strengthen the soft tissues that support your spine and also help relieve compression on spinal nerves.

Dr. Huff also specializes in identifying the emotional and psychological challenges that occur with chronic pain. He can refer you for behavioral therapy services to help you cope with your condition in a healthy way.

You don’t have to suffer in silence with chronic back pain any longer. Call Bluffs Pain Management to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for back pain, or book an appointment online today.