Back pain that won’t go away even with injections?
Back pain requires understanding the cause — structural damage, functional overload, or alignment issues.
The same ‘lower back pain’ can have completely different causes and treatment approaches. At Yonsei SM Pain Clinic, we identify the cause and provide fundamental treatment.
Quick Answer: Back pain has three main causes — structural damage (disc, stenosis), functional overload (muscle/fascia), and alignment issues (pelvis, posture). Treatment varies by cause: structural issues require tissue regeneration, functional issues require circulation recovery, and alignment issues require pattern correction.
Seek medical attention quickly if:
- Leg weakness or difficulty walking
- Bowel/bladder dysfunction
- Severe pain after trauma
- Fever with back pain
3 Types of Back Pain Causes
Back pain cannot be treated the same way. We categorize causes into 3 types and provide differentiated treatment.
Type 1: Structural Damage
Disc herniation, spinal stenosis
Actual structural problems in spine tissue. Imaging shows lesions.
Treatment approach: Tissue regeneration, nerve decompression
View Details →Type 2: Functional Overload
Muscle/fascia tension, myofascial pain
Imaging appears normal but muscles/fascia are overloaded with micro-damage accumulated.
Treatment approach: Circulation recovery, fascia release
View Details →Type 3: Alignment Issues
Pelvic imbalance, postural distortion
Pelvis or spine alignment problems causing repetitive strain on one side.
Treatment approach: Pattern correction, alignment restoration
View Details →Important: These three types often coexist. For example, disc herniation may be accompanied by muscle tension, or pelvic imbalance may cause disc problems. At Yonsei SM Pain Clinic, we identify all coexisting causes and treat them together.
Common Back Pain Symptoms
- Pain when bending forward — Hurts when tying shoes or washing face.
- Pain when bending backward — Hurts when looking up or stretching.
- Pain when twisting — Hurts when turning body or getting out of car.
- Radiating leg pain — Pain or numbness radiating down buttocks or legs.
- Morning stiffness — Difficulty getting up in the morning, gradually improves with movement.
- Worse with prolonged sitting — Hurts more after sitting for long periods.
Our Approach at Yonsei SM Pain Clinic
Back pain requires identifying the cause and treating fundamentally.
- Phase 1: Downshift (Circulation HD)
Calm sensitized nerves and improve circulation. Release fascia adhesions, decompress nerves. - Phase 2: Activate (Circulation PT)
Restore weakened deep muscles. Stabilize spine through core strengthening. - Phase 3: Integrate
Correct posture and movement patterns. Prevent recurrence in daily activities.
Conditions We Treat
Lumbar Disc Herniation
A bulging disc presses on spinal nerves, causing lower back pain, leg numbness, and radiating pain.
Learn More →Chronic Low Back Pain
Back pain lasting more than 3 months — often persisting despite normal imaging findings.
Learn More →Pelvic Imbalance
Pelvic tilt or rotation creates uneven loading on the lower back, hips, and legs.
Learn More →Spinal Stenosis
A narrowed spinal canal compresses the nerves inside, causing leg pain and numbness when walking that eases with rest.
Learn More →Sciatica
Pain shooting from the buttock down the thigh, calf, and foot — following the path of the sciatic nerve.
Learn More →Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
One-sided pain at the lower back–pelvis boundary, sharpest when rising from sitting or climbing stairs.
Learn More →Piriformis Syndrome
A deep pelvic muscle compresses the sciatic nerve, causing deep buttock pain and leg numbness — especially when sitting.
Learn More →Want to resolve back pain without recurrence?
We identify the cause and treat fundamentally through tissue regeneration and pattern correction.
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