One of the most common reasons why people around the world miss school, work, and other activities is back pain. The intensity of the problem can range from constant muscle tension to a sharp, stabbing sensation.
Many cases of back pain can resolve on their own after a few days with some rest and the help of home treatments. However, if the aching persists, begins to affect other parts of your body, or hinders your normal activities, it is best to seek an evaluation by an experienced doctor.
Fortunately, pain management specialists can recommend and perform various nonsurgical and minimally invasive interventions that can alleviate your back pain. Let’s talk about some of the latest effective treatments for back pain and where you can go to finally find relief from your backache.
Interventional Pain Management
After a thorough evaluation, your pain management physician can diagnose the cause of your back problem and create a treatment plan that may include one or a combination of the following options:
Pain Relievers
Your doctor may prescribe a pain-relief medication to help mitigate your back pain. The physician may also recommend injection treatment if you have a persistent backache. These are administered directly into the spine by a doctor, and the injection is guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy for precision.
Injection-based treatments for pain relief include the following:
- Epidural injection – delivered at the spine’s epidural space, often to alleviate upper and lower back pain
- Facet joint injection – administered into facet joints that connect the vertebrae in the spine
- Sacroiliac joint injection – delivered where your lower spine and hips are connected, to alleviate low back pain
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks can also greatly minimize or alleviate back pain. This guided injection method blocks the nerves from sending pain signals to the brain, essentially numbing the painful area and relieving inflammation. In addition to treating pain, nerve blocks may also be used for surgery.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelets are known for the role they play in wound healing, such as forming scabs over a cut on the skin. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy makes use of concentrated platelets from your own blood to address pain.
When the concentration of your platelets is injected into the painful site, cellular turnover occurs, repairing and replacing the damaged cells. Your pain and discomfort will therefore naturally decrease as your own body’s cells heal itself.
Minimally Invasive Therapies for Back Pain
When nonsurgical options fail to bring relief, your healthcare provider may also recommend minimally invasive procedures, such as the following:
Spinal Cord Stimulation
In this procedure, a tiny device is implanted under your skin near the spine to quell back pain. This device, which is remote-controlled, sends electrical impulses to your spinal cord in order to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain.
Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
Vertebral augmentation is a category of minimally invasive procedures used to address back pain due to a fractured vertebra. The most popular types are vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
In vertebroplasty, bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to fuse the bone fragments and seal the fracture. This relieves pain and restores your mobility.
Kyphoplasty is slightly different from vertebroplasty in that it involves inserting a tiny, thin balloon and inflating it in the fractured vertebra. This creates a space into which bone cement is injected under lower pressure. Unlike in vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty can restore vertebral (spine) height.
Vertiflex Procedure
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition wherein the spinal canal becomes narrow, thereby putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. As a result, you can experience constant lower back pain, tingling, and numbness.
Vertiflex is an FDA-approved and minimally invasive spinal spacer. With imaging guidance, the spacer is inserted in the area where nerve compression in the spine occurs. It is designed to help relieve back pain by restoring space between the vertebrae and the nerves.
Back Pain Relief in Melbourne, FL
Sports- and work-related back injuries, and conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, and herniated discs, can cause mild to unbearable back pain. It’s vital to consult a spine specialist in order to find a treatment option that works for you.
Central Florida Spine & Pain is here for you if you are experiencing persistent back pain. Our team is led by Dr. Nicholas Giordano, a board-certified physician who specializes in pain management. Our medical team is committed to providing quality patient-centered care and giving you the relief you are looking for.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Giordano, call us today at (321) 802-5021 or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you ease the pain off your back!
