Back Pain Treatments – Non-Invasive and Minimally Invasive
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The goal of back pain treatments is to treat a spinal condition and relieve pain. A sudden awkward movement or repeated heavy lifting can strain muscles and ligaments in the spine. If a person is in poor physical condition, constant strain on the back can cause muscle spasms.
Research studies show that discs act as a cushion between vertebrae or bones in the spine. The disc contains a soft material, which is prone to bulging and rupturing. A bulged or ruptured disc presses the nerve and causes pain. In today’s article, we will discuss non-invasive and minimally invasive back pain treatments. Read on!
Back Pain Treatments
Back pain can be treatment with non-invasive methods, such as medications, physical therapy, massage therapy, and steroidal injections.
Muscle Relaxants
A muscle relaxation acts as an anti-depressant and suppresses the pain. Such medications are used to increase the mobility of tense muscles and relieve pain from muscle spasms. Although muscle relaxants can relieve pain, this type of treatment is not suitable for chronic pain management.
Painkillers
Painkillers, also known as narcotic medication, suppress pain by weakening signals sent to the central nervous system. It is the best non-invasive back pain solution used to treat short-term and intense pain, such as acute pain after surgery.
Doctors rarely prescribe these medications for long-term treatment because of their side effects. Also, a patient suffering from back pain can become additive to painkillers or narcotic pain medications. Therefore, they are not suitable for long-term pain relief.
Steroid Injections
A doctor may administer a steroid injection directly into the Dural Sac, a space surrounding the spinal cord. The health professional uses fluoroscopy to inject the needle properly. The goal of steroid injections is to relieve pain temporarily by reducing inflammation around the compressed nerve roots.
Back Braces
A back brace is another non-invasive back pain solution for patients that provides comfort and reduces pain by supporting the back. Studies show that an elastic corset-style brace one of the most effective back pain treatments. However, it works even better when the patient combines it with the physical therapy exercise program. Some patients also use it to support their back after spinal surgery.
Manual Manipulation
Another non-invasive back pain solution, manual manipulation, involves a healthcare professional or chiropractor to make spinal adjustments. The goal of this treatment is to reduce discomfort, stiffness, or pain and improve mobility.
Massage Therapy
It is one of the best back pain treatments to relieve muscle spasms and painful sensations. Massage increases blood flow to the lower spine and speeds up the healing process by supplying oxygen and nutrients to damaged muscles.
Minimally Invasive Back Pain Solution
The goal of minimally invasive spine surgery is to stabilize the spine and relieve pain. Spinal compression is the leading cause of back and leg pain. Although there are several back pain treatments, minimally invasive surgery is more effective in treating long-term pain caused by spinal nerves’ compression.
Minimally invasive surgery involves the surgeon making a tiny incision in the back or abdomen to approach the spine. The surgeon then removes the disc and places the graft material that enables the vertebrae to fuse into a single, solid bone. MINT has qualified surgeons who can perform minimally invasive surgery effectively.
Anyway, small incisions result in less scarring, reduced blood loss, lower risk of muscle damage, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery. Different types of Minimally Invasive surgical techniques are:
- Laminectomy
- Microdiscectomy
- Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
- Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)
- Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
- Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF)
Laminectomy is a minimally invasive surgery performed for taking the pressure off the nerve roots to relieve pain. Likewise, Microdiscectomy involves removing a portion of the intervertebral disc that compresses the traversing nerve root.
ALIF is a surgical technique used to treat low back disc problems. It involves fusing two bones to stop the pain and correct alignment. Unlike PLIF, ALIF involves approaching the spine from the abdomen. On the other hand, PLIF requires the surgeon to approach the spine from the back.
LLIF is a new surgery technique used to treat degenerative spinal conditions, such as scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and disc herniation. TLIF is used to remove a damaged disc and joint two or more vertebrae using a cage and screws.
XLIF is one of the best back pain treatments performed to treat back pain and leg pain. Unlike other minimally invasive back pain treatments, XLIF involves the surgeon making an invasion through the side of the body. Contact us today!