Many patients living with chronic low back pain feel stuck in a frustrating cycle. Physical therapy, medications, spinal injections, and other conservative treatments may provide temporary relief, but the pain often returns—making it difficult to stay active, work comfortably, or enjoy everyday life.
According to Antigone Argyriou, MD, FAAPMR, some forms of chronic low back pain may involve more than inflammation or structural changes in the spine alone.
“In many cases, patients feel trapped between temporary treatments and more invasive procedures,” says Dr. Argyriou. “What we’re continuing to learn is that chronic low back pain can sometimes be related to dysfunction of the muscles responsible for stabilizing the spine.”
At Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, Dr. Argyriou specializes in interventional and restorative approaches focused on improving function, stability, and quality of life for patients experiencing persistent spine-related pain.
Why Does Chronic Low Back Pain Keep Returning?
For some patients, traditional treatments may help reduce symptoms temporarily without fully addressing the underlying source of dysfunction contributing to recurring pain.
One possible contributor is dysfunction of the multifidus muscles—deep stabilizing muscles that help support and control movement of the spine.
When these muscles are not functioning properly, patients may experience:
- Ongoing aching low back pain
- Recurrent flare-ups
- Pain with prolonged standing or activity
- Feelings of weakness or instability
- Difficulty returning to normal daily activities
Because these symptoms can overlap with many spine conditions, patients may spend months or years trying different treatments without long-term improvement.
What Is Mechanical Low Back Pain?
Mechanical low back pain generally refers to pain influenced by movement, posture, activity, or spinal stability.
Unlike pain caused by severe nerve compression or spinal instability requiring surgery, mechanical low back pain is often related to the muscles, joints, discs, and structures supporting the spine.
For some patients, impaired neuromuscular control of the multifidus muscles may play a role in ongoing symptoms.
Why Traditional Treatments Don’t Always Provide Lasting Relief
Conservative care remains an important first step for chronic low back pain, and many patients improve with:
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Epidural injections
- Activity modification
- Chiropractic care
However, some patients continue to experience recurring pain despite treatment.
“In certain patients, the issue may not simply be reducing inflammation or masking pain signals,” explains Dr. Argyriou. “The goal may need to shift toward restoring function and improving spinal stability.”
Exploring Additional Treatment Options
For patients whose chronic low back pain has not improved with conservative care, additional treatment options may be considered depending on the cause of symptoms.
One option now available at Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island is ReActiv8® restorative neurostimulation therapy.
Unlike therapies primarily designed to block pain, ReActiv8 is intended to help restore activation of the multifidus muscles responsible for spinal stability and support.
Dr. Argyriou recently performed the practice’s first ReActiv8 procedure, expanding minimally invasive treatment options for patients throughout Long Island experiencing chronic mechanical low back pain.
Who May Be a Candidate for ReActiv8?
ReActiv8 may be appropriate for patients who:
- Have chronic low back pain lasting longer than six months
- Continue to experience pain despite conservative treatment
- Experience recurrent flare-ups or activity-related pain
- May have multifidus dysfunction contributing to symptoms
- Are looking for alternatives before major spine surgery
Not every patient with chronic low back pain is a candidate, which is why proper evaluation by a spine or pain management specialist is important.
What to Expect
When you visit Dr. Antigone Argyriou for chronic low back pain, she will perform a comprehensive evaluation, review your medical history, imaging, and prior treatments, and discuss how your symptoms are affecting your daily life. Her goal is to identify potential underlying causes of recurring pain, including factors that may impact spinal stability and function.
Based on your evaluation, Dr. Argyriou will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Depending on your diagnosis, this may include conservative therapies, interventional pain management options, or advanced restorative treatments such as ReActiv8® for appropriate candidates.
FAQ
Why does chronic low back pain keep coming back?
Chronic low back pain can return for many reasons, including muscle dysfunction, spinal degeneration, inflammation, or underlying mechanical instability that may not be fully addressed with temporary symptom-based treatments alone. At Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, Dr. Antigone Argyriou evaluates patients with recurrent low back pain to help identify potential underlying causes and determine whether additional non-surgical or minimally invasive treatment options may be appropriate.
What is mechanical low back pain?
Mechanical low back pain generally refers to pain related to movement, posture, spinal stability, muscles, joints, or discs supporting the spine. Symptoms often worsen with standing, walking, bending, or certain activities. Dr. Argyriou commonly evaluates patients throughout Long Island experiencing chronic mechanical low back pain that continues despite traditional conservative treatment.
What are the multifidus muscles?
The multifidus muscles are deep stabilizing muscles located along the spine that help support posture, movement, and spinal control. Dysfunction involving these muscles may contribute to chronic mechanical low back pain in certain patients. At Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, advanced diagnostic and interventional approaches may help identify whether impaired spinal muscle function is contributing to ongoing symptoms.
Can weak spinal muscles cause chronic back pain?
In some patients, dysfunction or weakness involving the stabilizing muscles of the spine may contribute to ongoing low back pain, recurrent flare-ups, and difficulty with activity. Dr. Argyriou specializes in evaluating chronic spine-related pain conditions that may involve impaired spinal stability or neuromuscular dysfunction.
Why doesn’t physical therapy always relieve chronic back pain?
Physical therapy helps many patients improve strength, mobility, and spinal support. However, some individuals continue to experience persistent low back pain despite conservative treatment. At Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, patients with ongoing symptoms may undergo further evaluation to determine whether additional interventional or restorative treatment options could help improve function and quality of life.
Is ReActiv8 the same as a spinal cord stimulator?
No. ReActiv8 is designed to help restore activation of the multifidus muscles involved in spinal stability, while spinal cord stimulators primarily focus on modifying pain signals. Dr. Argyriou recently introduced ReActiv8 therapy at Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island as part of the practice’s expanding range of minimally invasive chronic back pain treatment options for patients across Long Island.
Who may benefit from ReActiv8 therapy?
ReActiv8 may be considered for certain patients with chronic mechanical low back pain who have not achieved lasting relief with physical therapy, injections, medications, or other conservative treatments. Dr. Argyriou works closely with patients to determine whether restorative neurostimulation or other minimally invasive therapies may be appropriate based on their symptoms, imaging, and treatment history.
Is ReActiv8 an alternative to spine surgery?
For some appropriate candidates, ReActiv8 may offer a minimally invasive treatment option before considering more extensive spine surgery. At Spine Medicine & Surgery of Long Island, treatment recommendations are individualized based on the patient’s diagnosis, symptoms, functional limitations, and overall goals.
When should I see a specialist for chronic low back pain?
Patients experiencing persistent pain, recurrent flare-ups, difficulty with standing or activity, or symptoms that continue despite treatment should consider evaluation by a spine or pain management specialist. Dr. Argyriou provides comprehensive evaluations for patients throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and the greater Long Island region seeking answers for chronic low back pain.
