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How to Treat Back Pain

Many people just like you wonder how to treat back pain, and obtaining a clearer understanding of what causes the back or neck pain may help you to make a treatment plan that is more tailored to your specific needs. Although back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, such as trauma, over exertion, or hereditary factors, the most common cause is aging.

More about Back Pain Causes

The main protective elements of our spine are the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae. However, as we age, the cartilaginous discs may begin to break down. This deterioration can give rise to conditions such as bulging disc, herniated disc, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis, among others. All of these conditions can cause severe back pain and neck pain, as well as numbness, traveling pain, weakness, and tingling. The underlying cause of these symptoms is the compression, or pinching, of nerve roots in the spinal column, or in some cases, the compression of the spinal cord.

Treatment Options

A doctor who consults you about how to treat back pain will probably ask you to describe your symptoms, their location, and their frequency. Once a clear diagnosis has been made, there are a variety of treatments for back pain. A course of non-invasive, conservative treatment may include any of the following:

• Rest
• Hot and cold compresses
• Physical therapy or mild chiropractic work
• Over-the-counter or prescription pain medication
• Epidural steroid injections

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Many patients find relief through the use of these options and most cases of back pain do improve with time. However, if your symptoms transition into chronic back pain, it may be time to consider surgery.

For many years, the only surgical options available to patients were traditional, open spine procedures that included numerous risks and lengthy recovery periods. Advances in medical technology have made it possible for patients to find relief from back pain through minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures performed on an outpatient basis. Contact the experts at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) to find out more, or to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.