Is There A Cure For Chronic Back Pain

Who Treats Back Pain

Different types of health care providers treat back pain, depending on the cause:

• Pain specialists, who are physicians including anesthesiologists with specialized training in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all different types of pain.
• Family or primary care doctors.
• Orthopaedists, who treat and perform surgery for bone and joint diseases.
• Neurologists, who treat disorders and diseases of the spine, brain, and nerves.
• Neurosurgeons, who perform surgery for disorders and diseases of spine, brain, and nerves.
• Rheumatologists, who specialize in treating musculoskeletal diseases and autoimmune disorders.
• Physical therapists, who specialize in movement and strengthening muscles.

Effective Ways To Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery

by Todd S. Koppel, MD | Sep 15, 2021

Long-term back pain can get frustrating and unbearable for patients and attending doctors. Lower back pain is a common disease in youth, middle-aged, and senior citizens these days. Aching neck or sciatic nerve pain affecting your back, hip, and legs, chronic back pain can affect your overall health, work, and leisure time.

Unfortunately,8 in 10 people suffer from back pain in their lives. Acute back pain can come on suddenly and can stretch from a few days to a few weeks. Getting a muscle strain on lifting a heavy object, an accident/injury, or joint inflammation are few conditions that can cause chronic back pain. Let us know the common causes of back pain and non-surgical treatments for a speedy and enhanced recovery.

What Causes Chronic Back Pain

There is actually no single cause of chronic back pain. It may be caused by many different factors. Some of the common factors include

• Wearing inappropriate footwear such as heels
• Ageing of the spine

Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or osteoporosis among others

Persistent back pain may also be a result of other serious ailments like cancer, AIDS, ulcers and gallbladder disease among others.

Any cause of chronic back pain may be caused by any one of these factors or a combination of two or more.

Sometimes, however, the cause of chronic back pain may be a mystery or quite complex. That is why some people experience severe back pain even after the physical problems are treated and healed.

In such cases, health care service providers will have to try different types of treatment options.

*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.

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New Understanding Of Chronic Pain

Patients who report continuing pain in the absence of a definitive pathology are sometimes dismissed by health professionals. Even in the absence of such an identifiable cause, however, chronic pain can lead to neurological feedback processes that only serve to worsen the pain and make it more difficult to treat.

Pain is inherently subjective, and a greater awareness of the need for taking pain seriously is growing among the health community as well as the public at large. This is particularly true for chronic back pain sufferers.

While a great majority of back pain cases are self-limiting and resolve on their own, the risk of recurrence and development of chronic disease is significant.

failed back surgeryneuropathic pain

The above considerations have led to a proliferation of services available to patients seeking both medical and alternative treatment for back pain.

Can Back Pain Be Prevented

Recurring back pain resulting from improper body mechanics may be prevented by avoiding movements that jolt or strain the back, maintaining correct posture, and lifting objects properly. Many work-related injuries are caused or aggravated by stressors such as heavy lifting, contact stress , vibration, repetitive motion, and awkward posture.Recommendations for keeping ones back healthy

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Pain Management For Chronic Back Pain

Pain, especially intractable or chronic pain, used to be something many patients simply had to learn to live with. In recent years, however, researchers have learned a great deal about pain and its physiological and psychological basis, leading to pain management treatments that can provide complete or partial pain relief.

Untreated pain can interfere with the healing process by affecting the immune system and leading to other undesirable results. In cases of back pain, discomfort can impede the rehabilitation process by interfering with exercise and increasing the risk of psychological distress.

This article profiles the profession of Pain Management and the main approaches used to treat chronic pain.

Sections Of The Spinal Column

There are four areas of your spinal column, each with a different name and region. Understanding what portion of the spine youre experiencing chronic pain in is the first step towards receiving adequate treatment. The four sections of the spine include:

• Cervical spine: The cervical spine refers to the uppermost portion of the spine along the neck region consisting of seven vertebrae, separated by intervertebral discs.
• Thoracic spine: The thoracic spine is in the middle and upper back and contains 12 vertebrae.
• Lumbar spine: The lumbar spine is composed of five vertebrae located in the lower portion of the spinal column.
• Sacrum: The sacrum is positioned at the base of the lumbar spine and connects to the pelvis. The sacrum helps to stabilize the pelvis and forms the posterior pelvic wall.

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Common Causes Of Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back painis usually age-related, but can also result from a prior injury. The mostcommon causes include:

• Arthritis of the spinethe gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the spine
• Spinal stenosisnarrowing of the spinal canal that may lead to nerve pain
• Disc problems, such as a herniated or bulging disc
• Myofascial pain syndromeunexplained muscle pain and tenderness

In some cases, its difficult to pinpoint the cause of chronic back pain.If your doctor has exhausted all diagnostic options, its time to seek asecond opinion from a back pain specialist, recommends Nava. Itsimportant not to make rushed decisions or undergo extensive medicalprocedures until the origin of the pain is found. Not only may they nothelp they could make the pain worse, warns Nava.

If the source of the pain is not known or cant be treated, your bestoption may be to work with your doctor on reducing the flare-ups and makingthe pain manageable with nonsurgical treatments.

Back Pain Causes and Treatments Webinar | Stephanie Van, M.D.

Chronic back pain is a persistent source of discomfort for many adults. In this webinar, our expert Stephanie Van, M.D., discusses common causes of back pain along with strategies for relief.

Treatment Options For Acute Lower Back Pain

Most low back pain is due to muscle strain and spasm and does not require surgery. To treat the pain, medications such as acetaminophen , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , gabapentin or pregabalin can be used. NSAIDs suppress inflammation, pain and fever by inhibiting certain inflammation-causing chemicals in the body. Acetaminophen reduces pain and fever, but does not inhibit inflammation. Gabapentin and pregabalin, medications that have been used for antiseizure activity, also have the ability to block pain. Opioids provide pain relief and may at times be prescribed to manage severe back pain. However, opioids have many problems, such as habituation, constipation and lightheadedness, and are avoided when possible and used for the shortest possible duration. Epidural injection is an option if the back pain does not respond to these treatments. Each person is different in terms of response to medication.

Other nonsurgical treatments for lower back pain include Intradiscal electrothermal therapy , nucleoplasty, and radiofrequency lesioning.

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How Common Is Lower Back Pain

Around four out of five people have lower back pain at some point in their lives. Its one of the most common reasons people visit healthcare providers.

Some people are more likely to have lower back pain than others. Risk factors for lower back pain include:

• Age: People over 30 have more back pain. Disks wear away with age. As the disks weaken and wear down, pain and stiffness can result.
• Weight: People have overweight/obesity or carry extra weight are more likely to have back pain. Excess weight puts pressure on joints and disks.
• Overall health: Weakened abdominal muscles cant support the spine, which can lead to back strains and sprains. People who smoke, drink alcohol excessively or live a sedentary lifestyle have a higher risk of back pain.
• Occupation and lifestyle: Jobs and activities that require heavy lifting or bending can increase the risk of a back injury.
• Structural problems: Severe back pain can result from conditions, such as scoliosis, that change spine alignment.
• Disease: People who have a family history of osteoarthritis, certain types of cancer and other disease have a higher risk of low back pain.
• Mental health: Back pain can result from depression and anxiety.

What Types Of Treatment Are Available For Facet

Typically, initial treatment would include a course of physical therapy, exercise, and/or chiropractic treatment paired with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications . If this initial treatment fails to adequately relieve symptoms, the next step could be injections. Physicians will typically obtain an imaging report, such as X-rays or an MRI, before administering injections.

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What Can Cause Lower Back Pain

Most acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back fit together and move. Some examples of mechanical causes of low back pain include:

Congenital

• Skeletal irregularities such as scoliosis , lordosis , kyphosis , and other congenital anomalies of the spine.
• Spina bifida which involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord and/or its protective covering and can cause problems involving malformation of vertebrae and abnormal sensations and even paralysis.

Injuries

• Sprains , strains , and spasms
• Traumatic Injury such as from playing sports, car accidents, or a fall that can injure tendons, ligaments, or muscle causing the pain, as well as compress the spine and cause discs to rupture or herniate.

Degenerative problems

• Intervertebral disc degeneration which occurs when the usually rubbery discs wear down as a normal process of aging and lose their cushioning ability.
• Spondylosis the general degeneration of the spine associated with normal wear and tear that occurs in the joints, discs, and bones of the spine as people get older.
• Arthritis or other inflammatory disease in the spine, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as spondylitis, an inflammation of the vertebrae.

Nerve and spinal cord problems

Non-spine sources

Diagnosing Low Back Pain

Diagnosis is made by a neurosurgeon based on history, symptoms, physical examination and results of diagnostic studies. Some patients may be treated conservatively if conservative treatment is ineffective, the physician may order imaging studies of the lower back and other tests, which may include:

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Fall Asleep Faster And Sleep Longer

When you have a restful nights sleep, your back will feel less sore during the day.7 A night of restorative sleep can have healing benefits and make you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and less stressed.

Watch Video: 11 Unconventional Sleep Tips: How to Get to Sleep and Stay Asleep

Try these natural sleep aids, one at a time, to see which one works best for you:

• Vitamins C and B6. The natural steroids in your body control your metabolism and promote good sleep.8,9 Supplements of vitamins C10 and B611 are known to help the body produce and regulate natural steroid hormones.
• Melatonin. Your natural sleep hormone, melatonin can be taken as a supplement to improve your sleep cycle.
• L-theanine. An amino acid found in tea leaves, L-theanine may help some people feel relaxed and get better sleep.
• Valerian. Supplements made from the root of the valerian plant may help you sleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Another option is cherry juice or cherry extractscherries contain certain enzymes that help promote better sleep.4

See Natural Remedies and Herbal Supplements as Sleep Aids

Low Back Pain Fact Sheet

If you have had lower back pain, you are not alone. Back pain is one of most common reasons people see a doctor or miss days at work. Even school-age children can have back pain.

Back pain can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp or shooting pain. It can begin suddenly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time as we age. Getting too little exercise followed by a strenuous workout also can cause back pain.

There are two types of back pain:

• Acute, or short-term back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. Most low back pain is acute. It tends to resolve on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no residual loss of function. In some cases a few months are required for the symptoms to disappear.
• Chronic back pain is defined as pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute low back pain develop chronic low back pain with persistent symptoms at one year. Even if pain persists, it does not always mean there is a medically serious underlying cause or one that can be easily identified and treated. In some cases, treatment successfully relieves chronic low back pain, but in other cases pain continues despite medical and surgical treatment.

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Referred Pain To And From The Lumbar Spine

Pain in the area of the lumbar spine may be due to important problems that are actually unrelated to the back. Referred pain occurs when a problem in one place in the body causes pain in another place. The pain travels down a nerve.. Sources of referred pain to the low back may include abdominal aneurysm , tubal pregnancy, kidney stones, pancreatitis, and colon cancer. Clues to these maladies include pain that waxes and wanes over a short period, with frequent peaks of intense pain, weight loss, abnormalities found during abdominal exam, and trace amounts of blood in the urine. On the other hand, pain can be referred from the low back and be felt in another location, as is often the case with . For example, it is not rare for a patient with a slipped disc in the lower back to have pain in the back of the thigh, or in the calf or even the foot, and not have any low back pain. This situation requires a doctor to sort out the type of pain and to do the examination required to show that the pain is actually coming from the spine .

About Chronic Back Pain

Most lower back pain is short-term or acute, lasting for several days to several weeks. But, it often resolves on its own with no residual function loss. Most acute back pain is mechanical, which means theres a disturbance in how the backs components muscle, spine, nerves and intervertebral discs fit together and move.

Chronic back pain, on the other hand, persists for over 12 weeks even if doctors treat an underlying cause or injury. Around 20 percent of individuals with lower back pain end up developing chronic low back pain with symptoms that persist for at least one year.

If youve been suffering from chronic back pain, its important you visit us at the OIP to receive a diagnosis for your condition and start treatment to experience pain relief.

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How Do I Know If Back Pain Is Serious

Any time youre experiencing back pain that lasts longer than two weeks with no improvement, we strongly recommend you seek care. If you have sudden back pain or chronic back pain with certain symptoms, or if you have a history of cancer, the pain could be a sign of something more serious. These symptoms include:

• Unexplained fever

Back In Action: Treatment For Chronic Pain

If youve ever said, Ouch, my back hurts, you are not alone! In fact, low back pain is one of the leading pain problems reported to doctors. What people dont talk about is that sometimes this pain persists longer than we expect. Pain that lasts over time, considered chronic pain, can be life-limiting. And single treatments, such as medications or interventional procedures, may have limited effectiveness.

At Stanford Pain, we have created a multimodal treatment for chronic back pain that helps you take control of your pain and re-engage fully in your life. This program is called Back in ACTion . Lets explore if this program might be a good fit for you or a loved one living with chronic pain.

What is chronic pain?

About one-third of adults in the U.S. seek treatment for back pain at some point during their lifetime. For some, the pain resolves within a few months. This is called acute pain and is typically treated with rest, ice, medications, and surgery. For others, the pain, unfortunately, persists for longer than a few months. Such persistent, chronic pain requires a different treatment plan than acute pain usually a biopsychosocial approach, which focuses on how biological, psychological, and social factors contribute to the overall experience of pain. More on this later.

What contributes to chronic pain?

What is the Back in ACTion program?

I was able to accomplish things I never thought possible.

How do I sign up?

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Chiropractic Care For Chronic Back Pain

Our chiropractor near Mt Sinai will evaluate your condition and diagnose your back pain. After the evaluation, our chiropractor will develop a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Your treatment plan may include:

• Chiropractic Adjustment During a spinal adjustment, our chiropractor uses their hands or special instruments to manipulate joints in the body to reduce pain, correct misalignments, and improve overall physical function.
• Manual Therapy This hands-on approach aims to improve mobility in soft tissues. Improved mobility can help reduce muscle tension and spasms.
• Therapeutic Exercises Our team can show you therapeutic exercises to help you maintain your range of motion and mobility.

Our goal is to help you cope with the effects of chronic pain and manage your symptoms through chiropractic care and lifestyle changes.