Back pain is annoying at best and debilitating at worst. Either way, you want to know how to keep it from interfering with your day-to-day activities or break free from it altogether.
Whether it’s pain in your upper back that’s ruining your day or a twinge in your lower back that’s plaguing you for weeks, here are some ways you can effectively banish it.
Stretching
Stretching your back muscles can help reduce pain and improve flexibility. The following are easy stretches to help alleviate your back pain:
- Supine stretch – Lie on your back, bend your knees, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise your right knee to your chest and clasp your hands around your thigh. Gently pull your leg toward you until you feel a stretch in your back and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Hamstring stretch – Lie on your back, bend your knees, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise your right leg, keeping your knee straight. Use a towel or strap to help you if you can’t reach your foot. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side
- Pelvic tilt – Lie on your back, bend your knees, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Tilt your pelvis until your back is flat against the floor and hold for 5 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat ten times.
Oral Medications
Depending on the severity of your back pain or how long you’ve been suffering from it, your orthopedic doctor may prescribe any of the following medications:
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- Narcotics – only prescribed for acute back pain
- Topical pain relievers (e.g., creams, patches, or ointments)
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs)
If oral medications aren’t giving you adequate relief, your orthopedic doctor may recommend giving you epidural steroid injections instead. ESIs – which are administered directly into the space around your spinal nerves (epidural space) – provide quick relief by coating the irritated nerves and reducing the swelling.
ESIs are often administered using image guidance to ensure precision, and they provide symptom relief for up to several months.
Surgery
If your back pain has become unbearable and nonsurgical modalities no longer work, your orthopedic doctor may recommend surgery to address the problem altogether.
Depending on the underlying cause of your back pain, your doctor may recommend any of the following procedures:
- Spinal fusion – This involves your doctor joining two or more vertebrae together to stabilize the spine.
- Disc replacement – This involves your orthopedic doctor replacing a damaged disc with a prosthetic component.
- Laminectomy – The procedure involves your orthopedic surgeon removing a small section of the bones in your spine to relieve pressure on your spinal cord or affected nerve.
Back Pain Treatment in Bloomfield, CT
At Advanced Orthopedics New England, our team includes a highly credentialed spine surgeon who prides himself on not only his skills and extensive experience but also on his commitment to delivering unmatched patient outcomes. Whatever treatment he deems is necessary for your back pain – whether nonsurgical or surgical – you can count on him to get you feeling better and moving freely again.
Book your consultation today. You may call our staff at (860) 728-6740. We look forward to serving you!
