In years past if a person anguishing from lower back pain their physician would usually recommend that an operation be done to repair the problem. Following the surgery, the patient would typically be on bed rest for a couple of weeks, and after that, if everything goes well, their back would be improved – unless it wasn’t. In the past, the majority of doctors are in agreement, there was unnecessary back operations being performed. A majority of persons weren’t any better off following the surgical procedure, and many were worse than they had been before the surgical procedure.
Currently, medical trials have shown that most chronic spinal disorders, even lower back pain, will improve on its own without an operation, with just rest and time. As a matter of fact, for many back ailments, all other options should be considered prior to scheduling surgery on the back. Fewer than one percent of all patients ever actually are in need of a surgical procedure for their back pain, though four out of every five patients have back aches at some point in their life.
Who Should Have Back Surgery?
Usually, doctors believe that an operation should only be performed if other methods have been tried and were ineffective at relieving the back pain (or if the pain returns), the pain is negatively affecting a person’s every day life, or if left untreated the back condition could deteriorate into a more chronic condition.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Physical rehabilitation can be an exceptional method to aid the back and spine in its strengthening process. Along with specific exercises, many times the physical therapist will implement other procedures, such as heat or cold therapy that eases swelling and pain and muscle spasms, ultrasounds that employ sound waves to treat and encourage circulation while at the same time alleviating inflammation, pain and muscle spasms, massage, spinal traction, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) which uses a painless electrical current on certain nerves to reduce soreness and increase movement of the back, and water therapy.
A large number of people find improvement by using medication to relieve their back pain. There are numerous types, some over-the-counter and others that require a prescription. They include muscle relaxants, analgesics and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).