Depending on the type and severity of your back pain, a spine specialist could offer different types of treatments. To determine the right therapy, a medical professional asks about your symptoms and might conduct tests. Here are some treatment options that a back doctor provides:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma therapy uses platelets from a patient’s blood to help heal injured or degenerative tissues. A healthcare provider draws a small amount of blood and places it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. This professional injects the platelet-rich plasma around tendons, discs, or ligaments in the back to provide relief. PRP contains some substances that help reduce inflammation and severe back soreness. By promoting healing in muscles, tendons, and ligaments, PRP therapy may allow you to return to daily activities with less discomfort. Due to its healing benefits, this remedy could reduce the need to use pain medications.
Injections
A back doctor may administer epidural steroid injections around the nerves in your spine to reduce pain and swelling. As for facet joint injections, they include a numbing medicine and a steroid to lessen any form of soreness, stiffness, and inflammation. If you’re experiencing pain due to pinched nerves, a medical professional uses nerve blocks to minimize soreness. Trigger point injections can be used to relieve back muscle knots that cause inflammation and discomfort while sitting or standing. These types of injections might be used to help you feel better if medications or physical therapy have not been effective in the past. Injection procedures can be repeated so that you can find long-lasting relief from constant back pain.
Medications
Your treatment approach may include over-the-counter pain relievers, which can be appropriate for mild to moderate back pain. If you’re experiencing muscle spasms from serious back injuries, relaxants may be useful in reducing pain and improving mobility. A healthcare professional might prescribe medications like gabapentin or pregabalin to address nerve pain within your system. They can also suggest oral corticosteroids to reduce swelling and severe pain. Drug therapy is often used to ease back pain temporarily alongside other remedies.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a form of treatment that strengthens the muscles that support the spine, such as the core, lower back, and hips. A physical therapist also could encourage you to stretch to stabilize your spine, reducing the likelihood of back injury and pain. Such exercises also help alleviate tension and prevent stiffness in the back, making you more flexible. A professional may utilize massage and spinal manipulation to relieve pressure on nerves. Since poor posture contributes to back pain, a therapist might show patients how to position their spine correctly to minimize strain on the muscles and joints.
Choose an Experienced Back Doctor
Whether you are experiencing mild or severe pain, a back doctor will work to identify the root cause of the issue and suggest treatment. Remedies may include physical therapy, injections, or pain relievers, depending on how serious your symptoms are. To learn more about your treatment options, call a trusted clinic today.
