Medical Procedures to Stop Back Pain

Back pain is a very common ailment. Four out of five people in the United States will suffer from and seek help for lower back pain at some point in their life. Back pain is treatable and most problems can be relieved without surgery.

OTC Medications

• A doctor may prescribe a course of medicine to help alleviate back pain. Often, over-the-counter pain relievers may do the trick over the short course of a few weeks.

Prescriptions

• Some back pain may require a stronger dose of medicines that require a doctor's prescription. Anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants may be prescribed. Stronger medicines such as codeine may be used under a doctor's strict supervision for a very short period of time.

Physical Therapy

• Physical therapy under the trained hands of a specialist can help immensely in the treatment of back pain. A therapist may administer heat, ice, electronic stimulation and massages to treat the cause and help the pain. Stretching and strengthening exercises may also be part of the therapy.

Injections

• Cortisone injections in the spine may be used if other treatments fail and the pain radiates down the leg. Cortisone, an anti-inflammatory, works at the root of the nerve and relives pain temporarily.

Fusion

• Surgery is always the last resort in treating back pain. Fusion is used to join two vertebrae to ease pain. The risk of arthritis near the surrounding vertebrae is a concern.

Disc Replacemnet

• Disc replacement involves inserting an artificial disc. Partial disc replacement involves the removal of the damaged disc and partial vertebrae removal is a surgical procedure to remove the damaged section of the vertebrae.