Back Pain Management Treatments

Back pain can result from an injury, pinched nerves, muscle spasms, and unfortunately, it's often a chronic condition. Living with pain can be difficult and lower a person's quality of life. Fortunately, there are many medical techniques specifically designed to treat chronic back pain. These treatments may not work for everyone, and patients often must try more than one treatment to find one that works for them. Some of the most well-known techniques for back pain management include pharmacologic techniques, invasive techniques and natural techniques.

Pharmacologic Pain Management

• Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be used to minimize chronic back pain, to facilitate rehabilitation exercises and to manage pain after surgery. There are five main categories of medications used for back pain management. Analgesics, such as acetomenophen, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are over-the-counter medications typically used for back pain that is less severe. Muscle relaxants can be used to treat pain from spasms in the back muscles and narcotics are often prescribed to help a patient through the pain of recovering from surgery. In some cases, antidepressants or anticonvulsants can be used if the back pain being experienced is nerve-related.

Invasive Pain Management

• There are several popular techniques for reducing pain, which involve the insertion of some type of medical instrument into the body. The first of which are injections, in which a medical professional delivers a dose of pain medication directly to the affected area through a needle. One type of injection, called prolotherapy, injects medication that stimulates tissue repair and increases blood circulation to relieve pain. Another, more radical technique, called radiofrequency radioblation involves killing a nerve that causes pain through the application of heat. Other options include the implantation of devices, which deliver electrical stimulation to the affected nerves, as well as the implantation of pumps, which deliver narcotic medication directly to affected areas.

Natural Pain Management

• For those who would prefer not to use medication or receive painful injections or surgery for chronic back pain, non-invasive methods are available. Exercise is one of the most widely accepted recommendations for back pain because it tends to increase blood circulation and strength, making movement easier and less painful. Massage and chiropractic therapies also may bring relief. Other non-invasive, non-pharmacologic treatments include the application of cold or heat to areas where pain is experienced and relaxation techniques to help a patient deal with the pain mentally. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is technique that involves stimulation of painful areas on the body with electrical pulses. Although TENS therapy relieves pain, the relief is often only temporary.