4 Back Pain Treatments

If you live in constant pain, you are probably searching for a pain treatment. Some pain management centers realize that patients need a treatment plan that has been customized to fit their diagnosis. This customization may mean that some patients are undergoing a number of different treatments to help reduce the overall pain in their life. Common pain treatment options include:

1.       Injections

An injection is typically a liquid that is put into your body through a needle in order to reduce localized pain caused from injuries, arthritis, chronic disease and other medical issues. When it comes to injections for pain treatment, there are a number of different options. Depending on your pain, you may need a simple injection or an epidural steroid injection.

2.       Pain Pumps

A pain pump is a piece of equipment that delivers pain medication. Typically it is inserted in your body and programmed to release the medication over a certain period of time. Most often this type of pain treatment is used for spinal or nerve pain.

3.       Radiofrequency Ablation

Ablation is the surgical removal of tissue.Radiofrequency ablation uses an alternating medium frequency current to generate heat that can remove dysfunctional tissue.  It often considered a long-term pain management option because it can target specific nerves.

4.       Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) uses electrical current to interrupt nerve impulses that cause chronic pain. Typically a pulse generator is implanted where it can send pulses directly to the spinal cord. Again, this type of treatment is a preferred option for the treatment of chronic pain.

If you suffer from constant pain, you may not see the desired benefits from just one of these pain treatment options. Using a combination of these procedures, you may be able to find respite from the pain. Talk with an expert today to find out what sort of procedures may be right for you.

Common Types of Back Pain Treatments

Back pain affects all ages but can be particularly debilitating for older Americans, who may have other underlying complications that create the pain. Still, back pain treatments, regardless of age, are contingent on the extent of injuries, whether they're muscular, skeletal or congenital in nature. Most medical specialists recognize two categories of treatment--conservative and aggressive. You can employ many conservative treatments at home before you see a doctor, while aggressive treatments are typically reserved for more serious back injuries. 

Bed Rest
It is advisable to stop all physical activity when you feel back pain and get plenty of rest. The key is to minimize the inflammation, which will only get worse with sports or working out.

Medications
Ibuprofen, aspirin and other pain medications can help mollify your back pain and reduce inflammation. Just make sure you take the recommended dose that's listed on the bottle. If you visit your family doctor, he may prescribe stronger pain pills or muscle relaxants, depending on the severity of your injury or condition.

Heating Pads/Warm Baths
Heat can soothe your back pain and reduce pain and inflammation. WebMD recommends that you use heating pads for 15 to 20 minutes. Another option is a warm bath for a similar duration. 

Physical Therapy
If your pain persists more than a few days, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Physical therapists often use various methods to treat back pain, including massage, ultrasound and whirlpools. They may also manipulate your back and assist you with improving your range of motion. Many instruct patients to perform stretching and resistance exercises to build strength around affected areas.

Steroid Treatments/Local Anesthetics
At this stage, your doctor has likely referred you to a pain specialist who can prescribe cortisone shots or local anesthetics like lidocaine, which block nerve impulses to relieve pain. 

Surgical Treatments
A couple examples of surgical procedures include herniated disk removal and spinal fusion. Disks are like cushions between your vertebrae. Specialists remove the herniated section of the disk when they cause pain, numbness or weakness. Spinal fusion is a welding of vertebrae that connects two bones to relieve pain and discomfort.

Causes of Back Pain

Back pain can affect someone suddenly and last for a few days to weeks. Back pain can also become chronic and last for months. Back pain can occur for many different reasons. Read below to determine what could be the cause of your back pain.

Ruptured or Bulging Disks
The soft tissue inside of disks in your spine can swell or burst and press on a nerve to cause back pain. This can be caused by a disk issue that can be determined with an X-ray.

Bad Posture
Consistently holding the body in an awkward position deforms the spinal cord and strains muscles, which leads to back pain. Using stretching exercises and taking care to hold the body in an upright, relaxed position while sitting and standing and prevent this.

Ligament or Muscle Strain
Persistent strain on the back caused by heavy lifting or even one sudden awkward moment can strain spinal ligaments and back muscles and cause pain. Constant back strain on an individual that is already in sub par physical condition can also cause back pain by way of muscle spasms.

Smoking
Smoking reduces the oxygen and blood circulation in the body, which constricts the muscles and can cause back pain.

Osteoporosis
An individual with osteoporosis can become susceptible to small fractures in the spine to cause back pain. Bones that become brittle due to this condition can begin to cause chronic back pain. 

Arthritis
Arthritis of the back narrows the space around the spinal cord, resulting in back pain. This form of arthritis often affects the lower back.

Irregularities in the Spine
At times some individuals may have a condition called scoliosis, which means that the spinal cord curves to one side. This condition, in severe cases, could lead to acute back pain.

Biological and Psychological Conditions
A body that carries too much excess weight can put stress on the back and cause pain. Anxiety and depression can also cause tension in the back, which leads to pain. An individual who rarely uses their back muscles due to inactivity can weaken the muscles, making it susceptible to pain, and back pain naturally occurs in adults over the age of 30.

How to Prepare for Pain Management Treatment

When you live with chronic pain, finally getting treatment can be a relief. You simply want to get to your appointment and get treated so you can start to live without the chronic pain that has plagued you for so long. However, before you go in for pain management treatment, there are some things you should do to ensure the appointment goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Review and Fill Out Forms

Most pain management centers will provide new patient packages on their website or send them to you in the mail so that you are able to fill out your paperwork before your appointment. It is highly advised that you take advantage of this because it will speed things up once you get to the center. Additionally, it will be easier for you to fill out the paperwork at home where you have all the information you may need. Filling the papers out completely is important to ensuring you get the best possible care.

Bring Medical Information With You

Make sure that you are completely prepared for the appointment by bringing all your medical history information that you have. This includes bringing a list of medications you may be taking, including anything over the counter, and any x-rays or other films you may have. Also, do not forget your insurance information. Forgetting this could delay your treatment or cause issues with your appointment.

Prepare a List of Questions

When you are at your appointment it is easy to forget any concerns you may have or any questions you had before you got there. That is why it is a good idea to write down any questions you may have so that you can refer to the list during your appointment. Consider asking questions that will educate you on understanding what is causing your pain and what your pain management treatment will entail.

Finally getting an appointment for pain management treatment can be wonderful. However, in order to make sure your appointment goes smoothly, you need to be prepared by filling out paperwork ahead of time, bringing all your medical information with you and preparing a list of questions.

What To Expect From a Pain Management Center

A pain management center is often the key to living life pain free. For someone who is struggling with chronic pain, it can be the only way to live a normal life. A center is able to offer a range of treatment options. If you have decided to go to a pain management center, it may help you to understand what you should expect.

Pain Management Is Misunderstood

The idea behind pain management is not just giving you some medication and hoping it will stop the pain. In most cases, pain is complex. It may have a point of origin, but it often is also influenced by other areas of your body. Therefore, the goal is to identify the problem and take a multi-faceted approach to treatment.

What Is a Multi-Faceted Approach?

A multi-faceted approach is using a variety of different methods to treat pain. Basically, the cause of the pain will be identified, along with any other factors that could be contributing to the pain. Then, treatment is designed for the different factors that are leading to the pain. This may mean that treatment involves taking medications, doing specific yoga exercises and following a specific diet. The idea behind this approach is to look at you as a whole person and not just one point of pain. The treatment will try to help you to heal overall so that the pain will go away, not just be hidden by the treatment you are given.

Teamwork Is Key

As part of the multi-faceted approach, you will likely see a variety of people at the pain management center. You may see a main doctor, who will run tests and go over your overall treatment plan, but you may also see specialists, like fitness experts, who are going to be a part of your pain management team.

Everyone has the same goal when you go to a pain management center: to help you manage your pain. Through identifying everything that is contributing to your pain and taking a multi-faceted approach to treatment, the team of people you work with will be able to help you be as pain free as possible.