Effective treatments for back pain

Effective Treatments for Back Pain Reliable health centers offer effective non-invasive treatments for back pain such as physical therapy, prolotherapy, and non-surgical spinal decompression.

Back pain is a common problem experienced by majority of people.

Millions of Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. The pain can occur due to muscle spasms, ligament strain, some form of injury or disease of the spine, bones or disc. It can also occur due to accidents or poor posture, poor sleeping habits and work habits, sedentary lifestyle, aging, overweight and stress.

Back Pain – Signs and Symptoms The nature of this pain can be acute or chronic and its nature may differ from person to person. The intensity can range from a dull ache to a sudden pain. Some of the prominent signs and symptoms of chronic back pain include • Shooting or stabbing pain in the joints (including the back) • Pain that radiates down your leg • Numbness, tingling, weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control • Muscle ache • Limited flexibility or range of motion of the back • Inflammation (swelling) on the back • Urinary incontinence • Inability to stand up straight

• Elevated body temperature (fever)

Diagnosis If you experience back pain and it does not go away with simple medication, it is advisable to consult a specialist at a professional healthcare center. Treatment would begin with a detailed evaluation to identify the root cause of the problem.

Medical history and a brief physical examination are a necessary part of the diagnosis. In addition to an x-ray, advanced imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI of the spine may be used to evaluate the soft tissue and bone.

MRIs can help detect tears in the discs or disk herniation, spinal stenosis, infection, and more. Electrodiagnostic tests may be conducted to identify nerve abnormalities and injuries.

Treatment Methods Professional healthcare centers offer comprehensive back pain treatment programs that incorporate various modalities. The treatment advised would depend on how long a person had suffered the pain, how severe the pain is, and reason for the pain. A customized back pain management treatment package may include the following: •

Physical Therapy – Physical therapy exercises help relieve pain, promote healing, and restore normal function and movement. Traction, ultrasound, Ice or heat (to eliminate muscle spasm and inflammation) and massage and myofascial release are also part of the treatment.

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Prolotherapy – This method is used to treat connective tissue injuries of the musculoskeletal

system that have not healed by either rest or other nonsurgical therapies. Also known as regenerative injection therapy, this treatment promotes healing, alleviates pain, and improves function.

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Spinal decompression - This is an FDA approved therapy administered using a special machine. The patient is made to lie down on a table that is part of the machine. The machine delivers a strong negative pressure causing the herniated or protruded disc material to move back into the spinal disc, relieving pressure on the compressed nerve and providing back pain relief. This method can treat lumbar muscle strain, herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, lumbar spine arthritis, sciatica, and more.

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Injections – Injections, which provide pain relief, enable the direct delivery of steroids or other medications to joints, muscles, ligaments or around nerves. Oral and topical medications may also be prescribed.

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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – TENS aims to lower or eliminate pain by means of a low-voltage electric stimulation that interacts with the sensory nervous system.

Early diagnosis of the different signs and symptoms is crucial for effective management of the condition. At a reliable healthcare center, patients are assured of end-toend treatment and care to enhance functional abilities and improve quality of life.