Back pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic. Patients with chronic back pain know only too well how the condition can affect their quality of life, and that pain relievers only provide temporary relief.
Chronic or severe back pain also limits the activities you can participate in. Many chronic pain sufferers can develop depression due to their condition, which is one of the most important reasons to have it addressed by a medical professional.
If you are experiencing unrelenting back pain, seek professional pain management from a doctor as soon as possible. In the hands of a physician who specializes in pain management therapies, it is possible to live life without pain.
HOW CAN I FIND RELIEF FROM MY BACK PAIN?
You may respond well to any of the safe and highly effective pain management therapies for chronic back pain, which include the following:
Chiropractic Care
This type of pain treatment involves spinal manipulation and adjustments through medical massage techniques and the application of a controlled thrust to the joints of the spine.
In a 2018 study, U.S. military personnel who had back pain were provided chiropractic care along with the usual back pain medication treatment. After 12 sessions of chiropractic treatment, the military personnel who received chiropractic care reported a greater reduction in pain, greater improvement in function, less pain medicine needed, and higher satisfaction from treatment overall than those who didn’t receive the chiropractic care.
Spinal Cord Stimulators
A spinal cord stimulator is a device that is surgically implanted into the body. It delivers electrical signals to the spinal cord in order to mask the pain signals before they reach the brain.
In effect, what you feel is a tingling sensation instead of pain. One of the major benefits of this medical treatment is that it allows chronic back pain sufferers to sleep soundly without being awakened by pain at night. It may also reduce the need for pain medication.
Intrathecal Pain Pump
Another implantable device used to manage pain is the intrathecal pain pump. It works to deliver pain medication directly into the spinal canal in order to interrupt and stifle pain signals that are being sent to the brain – thereby providing relief.
Nerve Blocks
A widely used interventional pain management technique for chronic back pain is the use of nerve blocks. These agents work to turn off and “block” the pain signals that are being sent by a specific nerve or set of nerves. Nerve block injections contain anesthetics, which block the pain signals.
Physical Therapy
Pain management treatment plans almost always include physical therapy, which promotes healing and prevents worsening of the condition. Being sedentary has been linked to the worsening of back pain.
Your physical therapist can tailor the exercises according to your needs through targeted physical therapy exercises. You should continue doing the exercises in order to keep your back pain at bay.
BACK PAIN RELIEF IN WOOSTER, OHIO
At Wooster Community Hospital, our specialized pain management physicians, Dr. Basali, Dr. Yonan, and Dr. Zackary offer comprehensive pain-relief services that include chiropractic services, interventional procedures, physical and occupational therapy, and spinal decompression procedures. We customize our approach according to your needs, with the goal of restoring full function and total relief from chronic back pain.
To schedule a consultation, call the Pain Management Institute at (330) 202-5580 or the Wooster Pain and Anesthesia Center at (330) 439-4656. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying a more pain-free lifestyle again.