Surgery is not the only option when it comes to relieving back pain. Chronic back pain can be devastating, making it difficult for people to live their lives in a productive manner. Since people will go with surgery before looking at any alternatives, many people struggle with the aftermath of a treatment that they did not need.
Thus, it can be beneficial to look into non-surgical options.
request an appointmentIt can also be beneficial to avoid invasive surgery in certain situations since the recovery time can be much longer than people expect and include other health issues. Seeing a health care professional who specializes in non-surgical spinal care treatment options is a great place to start. The common treatment goals for non-invasive methods involve options that provide patients with enough relief that they can take an active role in their rehabilitation process. This includes taking the advice of a non-surgical back pain professional when it comes to physical therapy options for back pain relief. This treatment can often involve using ergonomics.
Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment
A focus on improving or changing certain lifestyle choices is an important part of the process of non-surgical treatment. This includes practicing a healthy regimen each day that supports overall good health, including eating well, exercising, standing up straight, and not smoking.
Non-surgical back pain treatment options include:
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Electrotherapy
- Ice/heat therapy
- Aerobic exercises
- Stretching exercises
- Gentle chiropractic care
- Meditation
- Nutrition rich diet
- Pain medication
- Corticosteroid injections
Chronic Back Pain
When a patient experiences back pain for three or more months, the patient will usually require various levels of professional care. The pain can come and go or it can be constant as everyone is different and will experience different types of back pain. When a patient is experiencing chronic back pain, it can get in the way of the body’s healing ability.
Untreated pain tends to have a negative effect on the body’s immune system, impeding any proactive progress that the patient is trying to make. It is important to note that some people may have extreme symptoms and will require surgery. However, people can attempt other treatment options before reaching that point.
Herniated Disc Treatment
There are quite a few options for treating a herniated disc without surgery. Herniated disc symptoms often vary between one person and another. When it comes to someone experiencing discomfort and/or pain, it is simply going to depend on the location of the injured disc, as well as the severity of the herniated disc.
Spine surgery should be a last resort whenever possible, making it a good idea for those diagnosed with a herniated disc to carefully examine any non-surgical treatment options available. These options include doing things like making positive lifestyles changes, taking over the counter pain medications, taking drugs prescribed by a healthcare specialist and seeking various forms of therapy.
Therapy options can include physical, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, hot/cold. People with a herniated disc should avoid getting too much bed rest. Lying down too often can make the body’s joints and muscles stiff and weak. This is due to the fact that the body is not moving enough to support a truly healthy body.
Neck Pain Care
Neck pain can involve pain from the top of the shoulders to the bottom part of the head. Neck pain can range from mild and annoying to severe and debilitating. When someone is suffering from neck pain, their main goal is to seek relief from the pain. However, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment that will work for each individual.
There are a few reasons why someone would be experiencing any form of neck pain, with the most common being strained muscles, poor posture, and sleeping in positions that do not support the neck properly. Age is also a common reason why someone is experiencing neck pain. Over time, things like arthritis or wear and tear tend to lead to neck pain.
General neck pain care includes learning proper posture, using the right pillow when sleeping, drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated, and gently stretching the neck area to discourage strains.
We can help guide the patient through the treatment process.
Non-surgical neck pain treatment options include:
- Gentle chiropractic care
- Acupuncture
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Medication
- Exercising
- Yoga
- Herbal remedies