Chronic back pain is a life-altering event that can rob you of your ability to move comfortably, enjoy your daily activities, and sleep soundly. If you’re one of the 16 million American adults with chronic back pain, you might worry that surgery is your only option.
While surgery may be necessary in some cases, there are numerous different therapies available that could help manage back pain without a scalpel.
What Is Considered Chronic Back Pain?
We’ve all tweaked our backs or necks and felt that tinge of pain that lasts for a few days up to a week. However, pain that doesn’t go away for longer periods of time can change the way we move, walk, or even handle daily activities.
Chronic back pain is considered back pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer. It isn’t necessarily the degree of pain you experience but rather the length of time you experience the pain.
How Chronic Back Pain Is Treated
Chronic back pain is often treated with a combination of invasive and non-invasive procedures. Some procedures are more invasive than others. For instance, spinal surgery is an invasive procedure that requires anesthesia and recovery time.
Other minimally invasive procedures include:
- Steroid injections. Corticosteroids are injected into the areas where inflammation and pain are present to help reduce the inflammation and provide relief from pain that can last for months at a time.
- Anesthetic “blocks.” An anesthetic block can help reduce pain by disrupting the way nerves communicate pain to the brain.
- Radiofrequency ablation. The use of radio waves is another way to disrupt the nerves that send pain signals to the brain. Radio waves block the transmission of these messages to the brain, reducing pain levels.
While these therapies are mildly invasive, they provide long-lasting results, are not as invasive as surgery, and are well-tolerated by most patients.
At Oklahoma Interventional Spine & Pain, doctors use a multidisciplinary approach to help treat and manage your back and neck pain. This may include some of the above procedures but could also include non-invasive techniques.
3 Non-Invasive Techniques for Chronic Back Pain
There are several research-backed techniques that can help you manage your chronic back pain holistically and with minimal discomfort.
1. Physical Therapy
Although chronic back pain can make you want to sit on the sofa, not moving your body can actually worsen your condition and lead to additional pain. Physical therapy is a good way to keep moving safely and help regain the movement you once had.
If you’re attempting to heal after an injury or simply need to strengthen the muscles that support your spine, doing so with physical therapy can be the optimal solution. A physical therapist can help ensure you are doing the right amounts of the right exercises to keep you safe and improve your spine health.
2. Chiropractic
Although it is often viewed as controversial, some studies show that patients with chronic back pain who utilized continual chiropractic care experienced improvements in overall pain levels, decreased pain intensity, more freedom of movement, and less reliance on medication. Your pain management specialist can tell you whether or not you are a good candidate for chiropractic care.
3. Stretching and Core Strengthening
Keeping the muscles that support your spine in good condition can reduce unnecessary weight on your spine and also prevent spinal injuries. Stretching and conditioning can reduce the occurrence of pulled muscles and tendons, while strength training can help build the core muscles that help support the spine. Before starting a new workout routine or returning to an existing one post-injury, talk to your doctor for guidance.
If you aren’t into lifting, yoga could be an excellent choice for keeping your muscles and ligaments fluid and helping build strength in the core.
Relief Without Surgery
In some cases, you might have pain related to an issue that needs surgical intervention. For others, non-invasive procedures and therapies may work well to help alleviate your back pain and keep you moving.
Talking to a pain management specialist is one of the best ways to find solutions for chronic back and neck pain. Speak to a pain management specialist today to find out how you can manage your pain better and regain your active lifestyle.
Sources:
Chronic Back Pain | Health Policy Institute | Georgetown University
Back Pain | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Back Pain: Why Physical Therapy Might be the Relief You Need | Penn Medicine
Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain? | Harvard Health
