For years, many patients with chronic low back pain have been treated as if their pain was nerve-related. But what if the real issue is mechanical?

In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk, we explore a specific type of chronic axial low back pain that does not shoot down the legs and often does not respond to physical therapy, medications, injections, chiropractic care, or traditional pain management approaches.

The conversation focuses on the multifidus muscle, a deep spinal stabilizer that can become inhibited after injury. When this muscle stops firing properly, it may weaken, atrophy, and contribute to a cycle of mechanical instability and persistent low back pain.

We also discuss ReActiv8®, an implantable restorative neurostimulation therapy designed to reactivate the multifidus muscle and help restore neuromuscular control over time. Unlike traditional spinal cord stimulation, which is commonly used to modulate nerve pain signals, ReActiv8® targets the motor nerve responsible for activating the multifidus.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between neuropathic pain and mechanical back pain

• Why traditional spinal cord stimulation may not be the right fit for some low back pain patients

• What the multifidus muscle does and why it matters

• How the inhibition-atrophy-pain cycle can keep patients stuck

• How ReActiv8® therapy works

• What clinical data suggests about long-term outcomes

• Why proper patient selection and specialist evaluation are essential

At Vertrae® Surgery Center in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods and his team focus on identifying the true source of a patient’s spine pain and matching the right treatment to the right diagnosis.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and treatment options.