Long-lasting lower back pain
Lower back pain that has lasted 3 months or more despite medication, physical therapy or injections.
Find the real source of your pain
Back problems can cause pain in the hip, leg or knee. Our team evaluates long-lasting lower back pain and sciatica and talks through options that fit you.
- Minimally invasive options
- Outpatient care, no hospital stay
- Insurance checked before your visit
- Se habla español
PNSPeripheral nerve stimulation
Why it matters
Long-lasting lower back pain and sciatica
Back pain does not always stay in the back. Lumbar spine problems can produce pain felt in the buttock, thigh or knee, and leg pain with walking can also come from poor circulation. Finding the true source helps pick the right treatment.
Our team evaluates sciatica and long-lasting lower back pain. Options may include conservative care and, for selected patients, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Certain kinds of long-lasting lower back pain may also be evaluated for embolization, a use that is still being studied. Ask your specialist whether it may be an option for you.
Common symptoms
Does this sound familiar?
If any of these keep you from the things you enjoy, a visit can help find the cause and the options that fit you.
- Lower back pain lasting 3+ months
- Pain spreading into the buttock or thigh
- Numbness or tingling in the leg
- Back pain felt in the hip or knee
- Leg pain when walking
- Pain after an auto accident or fall
Conditions we treat
Conditions we evaluate and treat
Sciatica
Pain, numbness or tingling that spreads from the lower back into the leg.
Referred pain
Spine problems can cause pain felt in the hip, thigh, buttock or knee, so treating only the painful spot may not help.
Leg pain: back or circulation?
Leg pain with walking that eases with rest can be a sign of peripheral artery disease. A simple circulation test helps tell the difference.
Injury-related back pain
Back pain after auto accidents or slip and fall injuries, evaluated as part of our personal injury care.
Treatments
Treatment options
Every plan starts with an evaluation. Your provider reviews your history, imaging and the treatments you have tried, then explains which options may fit.
TreatmentEvaluation and conservative care
We review your history, symptoms and imaging to find the source of your pain. Plans usually start with the simplest options, such as activity changes, physical therapy and medicine.
- Looks for the true pain source
- Checks for circulation problems when needed
- Your plan is built around your goals
Who it may help: Anyone with long-lasting back pain or sciatica.
TreatmentPNS
Peripheral nerve stimulation
A small device delivers mild electrical impulses near a targeted nerve to help manage certain types of persistent pain. It changes pain signaling rather than treating blood vessels.
- Not an embolization procedure
- Suitability depends on the source and pattern of your pain
Who it may help: Selected people with certain types of persistent pain, after an evaluation.
TreatmentEmbolization evaluation for lower back pain
Certain kinds of long-lasting lower back pain may be evaluated for embolization, which uses a thin catheter and X-ray guidance to reduce blood flow to inflamed tissue. This use is still being studied.
- Still being studied
- Not every patient is a candidate
- Results vary
Who it may help: People with lower back pain for 3 months or more who haven't found relief with medication, physical therapy or injections. Ask your specialist.
Find out which options fit you
Our team checks your insurance before your visit.
What to expect
From first visit to follow-up
Screening visit
We review your history, examine you and look at your imaging. Tell us about numbness, tingling, or pain in other areas.
Find the source
We work out whether pain is coming from the back, a joint, a nerve or your circulation, and order tests when needed.
A plan together
We explain every option, including benefits, risks and alternatives, and check your insurance before any procedure.
Follow-up
We check in and track your pain and activity, and adjust the plan as needed.
Our team
Led by experienced physicians
Chief Medical Officer
Vinod Kumar, MD, FACC, RPVI
Dr. Kumar is a board-certified cardiologist and vascular specialist who leads the Heart Vascular & Leg Center and Advanced Joint Pain & Vascular Center team. He treats arterial and venous disease, nonhealing wounds and joint pain with minimally invasive, image-guided techniques, and trained in joint embolization in Tokyo with Dr. Yuji Okuno.
Serving Kern County since 1992Part of Heart Vascular & Leg Center.
Minimally invasive careImage-guided options, done as outpatient procedures.
Insurance checked firstWe verify coverage and referrals before your visit.
Se habla españolOur team speaks English and Spanish.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why does my back problem make my knee or hip hurt?
Hip and lumbar spine problems can produce pain felt around the knee, thigh or buttock. Treatment aimed only at the knee may not help if the main pain source is elsewhere.
Is embolization an option for back pain?
Certain kinds of long-lasting lower back pain may be evaluated for embolization. This use is still being studied. Ask your specialist whether it may be an option for you.
What is peripheral nerve stimulation?
PNS uses a small device to deliver mild electrical impulses near a targeted nerve to help manage certain types of persistent pain. Whether it fits depends on the source and pattern of your pain.
When is back pain an emergency?
Back pain with new bladder or bowel problems, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs, needs emergency care. Call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Do you see personal injury patients?
Yes. We provide evaluation and care for injuries from auto accidents and slip and fall incidents. Se habla español.
Locations
Find a location near you
Enter your ZIP code or city to see our offices sorted by distance. Procedures are done at our main center; our other offices see patients for consultations and follow-up visits.
Visit us
- Call for an appointment
- (661) 324-4100
- Locations
- 8 offices across Central and Southern California. Find the one nearest you
- Main website
- heartandleg.com