SSM St. Mary’s offers educational seminar on back pain as part one of its 90th Anniversary Speaker Series

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; it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different causes. It 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. Tad Berry,  board-certified interventional pain specialist with SSM Pain Care at St. Mary’s Health Center. “Treatments for Relieving Back Pain” will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Apr. 16, in the Kohler Auditorium at St. Mary’s Health Center, 6420 Clayton Road in Richmond Heights.

Dr. Berry 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

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