Back Pain Specialist

New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center

Ajay Kumar, MD

Interventional Spine and Pain Physician & Interventional Pain and Regenerative Therapies located in Hackettstown, NJ, and Matamoras, PA

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people call out sick from work and see their doctor. In most people, back pain resolves within a few weeks. However, some people have chronic back pain that affects their quality of life. Ajay Kumar, MD, is an interventional spine and pain physician at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center who specializes in the treatment of back pain. He offers many innovative therapies, including spinal cord stimulation, to help you get relief. Call the closest office in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Warwick New York or book an appointment online today.

Back Pain Q & A

What is back pain?

Back pain is a common pain complaint that affects millions of people every year. The severity of pain varies, ranging from a dull ache to severely debilitating pain. Back pain may be acute or chronic.

Acute back pain

You may develop acute back pain after an unexpected injury. This type of pain usually resolves within a few days or a few weeks once the underlying injury heals.

Chronic back pain

Chronic back pain is pain that lasts three or more months. About 20% of acute back pain conditions turn into chronic back pain.

If you have back pain, Dr. Kumar can help. He takes a conservative approach to care and offers many innovative treatments to help you get long-term relief.

What causes back pain?

In most cases, back pain develops from a problem that affects the normal structure or function of the back or spine. Some of the more common causes of back pain include:

Sprain or strain
Herniated disc
Degenerative disc disease
Arthritis
Spinal stenosis
Sciatica
Osteoporosis
Skeletal irregularities (e.g., scoliosis, kyphosis)
Fractures
Spinal nerve compression

Though not as common, back pain may also develop from non-back-related problems, such as kidney stones or fibromyalgia.

What can I expect during a back pain evaluation?

When you visit New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center for help with back pain, you can expect a comprehensive exam. Dr. Kumar reviews your symptoms, including when they started and the type of pain you feel.

He asks about your medical history and performs a physical exam. To confirm or rule out a diagnosis to explain your back pain, Dr. Kumar requests diagnostic tests, such as blood work, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.

How is back pain treated?

Dr. Kumar develops individualized treatment plans for back pain based on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Treatment may include:

Activity modification
Heat and ice
Anti-inflammatory medication
Physical therapy
Anticonvulsants to reduce nerve pain
Pain medication
Spinal injections
Spinal cord stimulation

When conservative measures fail to provide relief from your back pain, Dr. Kumar may recommend minimally invasive spine procedures, such as a discectomy or decompression.

What is spinal cord stimulation?

Spinal cord stimulation is a device that delivers mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord to alleviate pain. Dr. Kumar may recommend spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic back pain when conservative or surgical treatments fail to provide sufficient pain relief.

Spinal cord stimulation may reduce pain, improve quality of life, and decrease reliance on pain medication.

Call New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, or book an appointment online today to discuss treatment options for your back pain.

What we offer