Decisions regarding treatment for your back must be made carefully. In most instances, there is ample time to learn about your spinal condition so that you can make an educated decision about your care.
Learn more about some of the Non-Surgical Options treatment options for the back:
Epidural Steroid Injections
An epidural spinal injection is a non-surgical treatment option that may provide either short- or long-term relief of radiating back pain. When spinal nerves become irritated or inflamed due to a degenerative condition in the spine that is causing nerve compression, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, the result may be severe acute or chronic back pain, as well as pain, numbness and muscle weakness that extends elsewhere into the body, such as the hips, buttocks or legs. Before your doctor considers spine surgery to relieve these symptoms, he or she will most likely recommend one or more non-surgical treatment measures. An epidural spinal injection is one of these options.
Exercise
Regular exercise is an essential part of having a healthy back. In the treatment of back pain, almost every healthcare provider agrees that exercise plays an important role in recovery. Every day we make demands on our bodies that can stress our backs. It’s a well known fact that the more fit you are, and the stronger your back is, the more easily your body can deal with the stress and strain of every day activity.
Unfortunately, when most people start to experience back pain, they become less active. As a result, the muscles that support the spinal column become weaker and have less endurance. If your back loses enough muscle tone, the muscles can shrink, contract and tighten. A commitment to a physical conditioning program that is approved by your physician is important to everyone, but it is especially important to those with chronic back pain.
Medications
To help alleviate back or neck pain and other symptoms that may be caused by spinal disorders or spinal instability, there are a variety of medications your doctor may prescribe.
In the use of medicine to treat chronic low back pain physicians are advised to consider the specific needs of the patient when prescribing and scheduling these medications. The goal when prescribing medication to chronic pain patients should be to derive maximum benefits or reduction of pain and discomfort, encourage compliance and minimize the risk of overuse or abuse of the medications.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important treatment option for most back pain sufferers. A physical therapist is trained to carry out your doctor’s orders to stretch, strengthen, and exercise your back in a safe and effective way. It is important that physical therapy is coupled with education, so that patients can be empowered to take charge of their own recovery.
Physical therapists are trained to give instruction on posture, educate patients about basic anatomy and physiology, and instruct patients in body mechanics, stretching, strengthening and conditioning exercises. The physical therapist also works with the physician to determine if other types of treatments including ultrasound, heat, diathermy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, massage or spinal manipulation may be indicated.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors that specialize in the treatment of low back pain attempt to improve the function of the joints and the nervous system by adjusting vertebral subluxations. Manual spinal adjustments are the key to chiropractic treatment, and in fact, the word “chiropractor” is derived from the two Greek words “cheiros” and “praktikos” which together mean “done by hand”.
Chiropractic adjustments are very popular in the United States, with as many as 40 million Americans receiving regular treatment. Because there are major philosophical and theoretical differences between the ways in which chiropractors and medical doctors treat back pain, there has always been a rift between these two groups. Recently, the chasm between chiropractors and medical doctors has started to narrow as they have begun to share information and provide each other with more insight into their respective methodologies, practices, and treatments.
The information on this web site is for your general educational information only. Please contact Spine Works Institute for proper diagnosis and treatment.