SSM Pain Care offers educational seminar on back pain treatments

Lower back pain is a common concern affecting up to 90 percent of Americans at some point in their lifetime – and up to 50 percent will have more than one episode. It is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost days at work.

Lower back pain is not a specific disease, rather it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different causes. Lower back pain is frequently associated with overuse or injury to the muscles or ligaments that support the spine. Herniated or ruptured discs in the spine, osteoarthritis or joint degeneration, and fractures of the vertebrae from trauma can place pressure on nerve roots and cause chronic pain.

Anyone suffering from chronic lower back pain is invited to a special presentation by Dr. Christopher Patton, a board-certified pain management specialist with SSM Pain Care at St. Joseph Medical Park. “Treatments for Relieving Back Pain” will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, in the lobby of St. Joseph Medical Park,1475 Kisker Road in St. Peters.

Dr. Patton will address the causes of lower back pain and the full range of advanced treatments now available to successfully manage and relieve pain, including:

·         Medications

·         Injection therapies

·         Spinal cord stimulation

·         Implantable pain pumps

·         Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures

The free program includes a light dinner. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (1-866-776-3627) to register.