Non-Surgical Treatment for Back Pain

Very few people who suffer from back pain are candidates for surgery. As a wider variety of non-surgical treatments are available and always becoming more affordable, people who suffer from back pain, even chronic back pain, should be able to find some type of non-surgical treatment that can help them find relief from their back pain. Finding relief in a non-surgical manner for treatment of your back pain can be as simple as considering your level of pain and your lifestyle. Some of the most common non-surgical options include physical therapy, exercise, stretching, medication, spinal injections and chiropractic care, plus many different types of holistic care options. Below is a short list of some of the most common non-surgical treatment options for back pain.

Physical Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy combined with therapeutic exercise is the number one non-surgical treatment for back pain. Most insurance companies are becoming much more accepting of physical therapy options as it is much cheaper than surgery. Heat/cold therapy, ultrasounds, spinal traction, electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), massage and aquatic therapy of just some of the options a back pain sufferer can choose from when considering physical therapy treatment. Regular stretching, moving around and limiting heavy lifting is also very helpful in preventing back pain from getting worse.

Medication
Medication is another option when considering non-surgical relief for back pain, however it is strongly suggested that you consult your doctor and talk to the health care professional on the best course of treatment for you. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)’s, help decrease inflammation, but sometimes the side effects can be out-weigh the benefits. Acetaminophen, an analgesic used for acute pain, can be taken alone or with NSAID’s. In severe back pain cases, sometimes muscle relaxants can be prescribed, but these are very habit forming. Again, it is always advisable to talk to your doctor before taking any medications for back pain.

Spinal Injections
Spinal injections serve two purposes. An injection relieves the pain and is an important diagnostic tool that doctors use to help determine where the pain is coming from. Spinal injections should not be used as the only means to relieve pain, and should be used as part as a treatment plan that can also include other therapies such as physical rehabilitation.

Chiropractic
Services Chiropractic medicine is based on an understanding that good health, in part, depends on a healthy spine. Misalignment of the vertebrae in the spinal column is one of the main causes of pain and disease. Chiropractors use techniques that are proven to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves, can restore joint mobility and help relieve back pain without the need for surgery.

Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture, herbs and yoga are just some of the choices a patient may consider when as a non-surgical treatment for back pain. Alternative medicine is an option that has been available for centuries and more and more patients are finding the benefits of natural healing a beneficial and non-evasive treatment plan as a non-surgical alternative to treatment for their back pain.