How To Treat Back Pain Without Surgery
Many back pain sufferers would prefer to treat back pain without surgery. Y
ou may surprise to learn that many doctors would also prefer non-surgical treatment options for your back.
Is Back Surgery A Good Idea?
In an article last week we discussed failed back surgery, or FBS. if you read that article you may remember that FBS doesn’t necessarily mean something went wrong during surgery. The condition simply implies that the patient continues to experience back pain after they’ve undergone back surgery. This doesn’t mean your surgery wasn’t successful, there may be other reasons for the pain.
A recent study reported about 21% of patients who undergo back surgery continue to have pain after surgery.1 With this in mind it’s important for patients and their doctors to carefully weigh whether back surgery is a good idea prior to proceeding with it.
Are there cases in which surgical treatment is beneficial? Absolutely. We’re not suggesting that surgery should be avoided at all costs. We’re just saying it’s not appropriate for all individuals. Each patient should carefully review their options with their doctor when considering treatment options. In addition, the patient should feel comfortable that they understand the risks and benefits of any treatment option before making a decision on how to proceed.
Here at Saratoga spine 85% of our patients do not require surgery.
Our approach is to provide the highest level of patient care, in a manner that’s appropriate and agreeable to the patient.
How to Treat Back Pain Without Surgery
So, when surgery is not appropriate, we work with patients to help them understand how to treat back pain without surgery. In fact, there are many non-surgical treatment options for back pain. Many of these we’ve discussed in detail on the blog:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- TENS (electrical nerve stimulation therapy)
- Heat and/or Ice Therapy
- Anti Inflammatory Drugs
- Pilates
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic Care
- Alexander Technique
- The McKenzie Method
So, which treatment option is best for your back pain? It depends on your unique situation…your symptoms, history and diagnosis. As with most medical treatment, you should discuss options with your doctor before deciding the best course forward.
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