Chronic low back pain: Pain generators and modern spine interventions

In this session,  Amanjeet Toor will give clinicians a clear, structured approach to chronic low back pain by breaking down the major pain generators, discogenic, facet, sacroiliac, radicular, and vertebrogenic, and explaining how to recognise each pattern clinically.

Amanjeet will cover when imaging truly helps, how to interpret common MRI and X-ray findings, and what red flags matter. The talk will also outline the range of spinal interventions now available in New Zealand, including transforaminal epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac joint injections, medial branch blocks, radiofrequency ablation, pulsed RF of the dorsal root ganglion, and basivertebral nerve ablation. 

The goal is to equip clinicians with practical tools to diagnose more confidently, choose imaging wisely, and understand current interventional options for patients who need them.