Back Pain Specialists
Back pain can affect the way you work, sleep, and move through your day, and it can point to anything from a simple muscle strain to a herniated disc. Our board-certified specialists start with the most conservative treatment likely to help, and only recommend surgery if less invasive options haven’t relieved your pain. When back pain stems from an unstable or slipping vertebra, a lumbar spinal fusion stabilizes the segment to stop the painful motion.
Call us today to make an appointment with Empire Pain Management, Minimally Invasive Spine & Orthopedic Specialists proudly serving patients across New York and New Jersey, including communities such as Plainview, Ronkonkoma, New Hyde Park, Montville, Clifton and Plainfield.
Back Pain Overview
Back pain has many possible causes, from a pulled muscle to a structural problem in the spine — and the right treatment depends on what’s actually causing it. At Empire, we follow a step-and-ladder approach: we start with the least invasive option likely to help, often physical therapy, targeted injections, or medication, and move to more advanced procedures like radiofrequency ablation or minimally invasive spine surgery only if those don’t provide lasting relief. Most people with back pain improve without ever needing surgery. If back pain is affecting your daily life, schedule an evaluation and we’ll help you find the right starting point.
Back pain can affect how you work, sleep, and move through your day — and it can point to anything from a simple muscle strain to a herniated disc or arthritic joint. Our board-certified pain and spine specialists start with the most conservative treatment likely to help, and only move toward procedures or surgery when gentler options haven’t worked. We care for patients across Long Island and northern New Jersey, with offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma, NY, and Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield, NJ.
The short version
- Most back pain improves with conservative care — the majority of people never need surgery.
- The right treatment depends entirely on the cause, so an accurate diagnosis comes first.
- We follow a step-by-step approach, from therapy and injections to minimally invasive procedures.
- Some warning signs mean you should be seen urgently — we cover those below.
What causes back pain
Back pain has many possible sources, and they don’t all get treated the same way. Common causes include:
- Muscle or ligament strain — from lifting, a sudden movement, or overuse
- Herniated or degenerating discs — which can press on nearby nerves
- Arthritis of the facet joints — the small joints that guide spinal movement
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing that crowds the nerves, common with age
- Injury or trauma — from a fall or a car accident, which should be evaluated promptly
According to Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, most back pain improves within a few weeks to a month with rest, movement, physical therapy, and over-the-counter medication. When it doesn’t, identifying the specific source is what makes targeted treatment possible.
How we treat back pain — step by step
We follow a step-and-ladder approach: start with the least invasive option likely to help, and only advance if it doesn’t give lasting relief.
- Conservative care first — physical therapy, activity changes, and medication resolve most back pain.
- Targeted injections — when pain persists, a precise injection can both diagnose and treat. Depending on the source, that might be an epidural steroid injection for nerve-related pain, or a facet joint injection for arthritis-related back pain.
- Longer-lasting nerve treatments — if facet joints are the source, radiofrequency ablation can quiet the pain nerves for months at a time.
- Minimally invasive procedures — for stenosis, the MILD procedure can relieve pressure without open surgery; for a herniated disc, endoscopic discectomy removes the fragment through a tiny opening.
- Regenerative options — for certain disc-related pain, regenerative disc injections use your own platelets to support healing.
Our promise on surgery: We recommend a procedure only when it’s the option most likely to solve your problem. Most people with back pain improve without one, and we’ll tell you honestly where you are on that ladder.
Explore specific back conditions
For more detail on particular problems, see our pages on low back pain and lumbar strain. If your pain shoots down a leg, our sciatica page may fit better.
When to seek care urgently: See a doctor right away — or go to the emergency room — if back pain comes with loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, rapidly worsening leg weakness, fever, or severe pain after a serious fall or accident. These can signal a problem that needs immediate attention.
Why patients across Long Island and North Jersey choose Empire
We’re a local pain and spine practice, so your evaluation, treatment, and follow-up all happen close to home with the same team — no hospital-system runaround.
- New York: Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma — across Nassau and Suffolk
- New Jersey: Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield — serving Passaic, Morris, and Union County communities
- Board-certified interventional pain management and spine care
- The full range of options under one roof, from therapy to advanced procedures
Insurance
Coverage varies by plan and by location, and we accept many major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. The simplest way to know exactly what your plan covers is to call — our team will verify your benefits before your visit, so there are no surprises. Whether you’re on Long Island or in North Jersey, reach out and we’ll walk you through your options.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the fastest way to relieve lower back pain?
For a typical strain, staying gently active, alternating ice and heat, and using over-the-counter anti-inflammatories usually helps most. Avoid prolonged bed rest — gentle movement tends to speed recovery. If it isn’t improving, an evaluation can pinpoint why.
How long is too long for back pain to last?
Most back pain eases within a few weeks. If yours lasts beyond one to two weeks, keeps returning, or radiates down a leg, it’s worth being evaluated so we can find the cause and treat it directly.
Will I need surgery?
Probably not. Most back pain improves with conservative care and, if needed, targeted injections. Surgery is reserved for specific problems that haven’t responded to less invasive treatment.
What’s the best sleeping position for back pain?
Many people are most comfortable on their side with a pillow between the knees, or on their back with a pillow under the knees, to keep the spine in a neutral position. The best position is the one that reduces your pain.
When should back pain be treated as an emergency?
Seek immediate care for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin area, rapidly worsening leg weakness, fever with back pain, or severe pain after a major injury. These need urgent evaluation.
Which doctor should I see for back pain?
An interventional pain or spine specialist can diagnose the source and offer the full range of treatments — from therapy and injections to minimally invasive procedures — which is exactly what our team does.
Back pain that’s wearing you down?
Our pain and spine specialists see patients across Long Island, NY and northern New Jersey. We’ll find the cause and start you on the least invasive path that actually works.
New York: 516-229-1443 | New Jersey: 732-630-7246
Explore Treatment Options For Back Pain
Medicare, Workers Comp,
No Fault & Others.
We accept most major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. Select your state to see accepted plans.
Accepted at our New York Locations
Workers' Compensation
No-Fault (NY & NJ)
Lien Cases
Medicare
Empire BCBS
BCBS / Anthem
Cigna
Aetna
Empire NYSHIP
Oxford (PPO)
United Health Care
GHI / Emblem Health
Humana (PPO)
Magnacare (PPO)
Northwell Direct
1199 SEIU
Self Pay
Accepted at our New Jersey Locations
No-Fault (NJ)
Lien Cases
Horizon BCBS
Empire NYSHIP
BCBS / Anthem (PPO)
Cigna
Aetna (PPO)
GHI / Emblem (PPO)
Port Authority UHC
Verizon Plan
Carpenter & Trade Unions
Self Pay
Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted at our New Jersey locations. Not sure about your plan? Call us and we'll verify before your visit.
Not sure about your plan?
Call Us — 516-229-1443
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Monica Misak
Interventional Pain Specialist
Dr. James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.