It’s often said that variety is the spice of life. And while that isn’t exactly the case with back pain treatments, there is certainly no such thing as too many options. Your case is unique to you, so you may need various back pain treatments to zero in on the one that works.
The back pain specialists at the Southeastern Spine Institute are pleased to have so many options today. You can get only the treatment you really need — no more, no less. Back pain can span a large spectrum from mild to unbearable. It can stay constant or come on suddenly. The treatment that best suits you depends on a variety of factors, including:
- The type of your injury or ailment
- How your pain is manifesting
- Where you’re feeling the pain
- The frequency of your discomfort
- What movements or activities trigger an episode
Just to Name a Few…
Your spine and central nerves connect to absolutely every other part of your body. While the number of treatment options may seem overwhelming, it’s proportionate to number of potential problems and diagnoses. Even a partial list of back pain treatments is formidable, such as:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, a great fix for minor aches and discomfort
- Physical therapy and stretching, extremely beneficial for everyone and typically recommended as a standalone treatment or as a follow-up to other back pain treatments
- IDET and TENS, electrical nerve stimulation and electro-thermal therapy that can be used to relieve tension-related back pain issues
- Bioelectric therapy that may be able to block the transmission of pain messages to your brain
- Injection therapy for back pain, which can actually involve several different treatments:
- Stem cells and PRP, injected directly into your problem area to treat a wide variety of conditions
- Epidural steroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain
- Nerve blocks, facet joint blocks, and sacroiliac joint block injections used primarily as a means of treating specific sources of pain
- Spinal decompression surgeries, intended to reduce and relieve pressure and compression on your spinal cord
- Spinal fusion, another form of surgery, also called spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, which joins two or more vertebrae to eliminate the motion between them and relieve your pain
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, surgeries used to treat back pain that result from compression fractures by injecting bone cement directly into your fractured vertebrae
Options, Options, Options
Back pain treatments also have an element of personal preference, if only to a reasonable extent. For example, your spinal medicine doctor is unlikely to agree to a holistic or alternative treatment plan if your condition has advanced to the point of needing surgery. Catch your problems early, and you have more choices.
Approximately one in every three people is subject to back pain each year. It’s entirely possible that your pain may go away on its own following a few weeks of home treatment. But don’t ignore warning signs; get professional advice before you decide on any treatment option.
And if you’re among the many people who have their lives plagued by chronic pain, it’s time to consult a specialist with access to an array of treatment options. It’s better for you in the long run because you’ll find the treatment that works best for you.