A majority of us experience back pain at some point in our lives. A single episode lasting a few weeks is common and should be treated by a family doctor. However, when the condition persists, causing a decrease in quality of life or absences from work, it is essential to identify the source of the pain.
Unfortunately, current diagnostic tools, even MRI, are often insufficient. Only through anesthetic techniques can we determine the anatomical structure(s) responsible for the pain.
In practice, we anesthetize the suspected structure, and if the pain significantly decreases, we have identified the causal element. Targeted treatment then becomes possible.