“Chronic back pain is a persistent source of discomfort for many adults. Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. It can come & go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause” [1]
So this is why consulting an experienced Pain Specialist (online or in-person) as soon as possible, is the best course of action. They will give you an accurate diagnosis & get you started on a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan to help get you back to your normal self
Key Causes of Chronic Back Pain
Although generally speaking, long-term back pain is related to age, it can also arise from a prior injury. The top causes include:
- Arthritis of the spine: the bit-by-bit wearing away of the cartilage within the spine
- Spinal stenosis: the narrowing of the spinal canal (which can result in nerve pain)
- Disc issues: these include bulging or herniated discs
- Myofascial pain syndrome: tenderness and muscle pain that comes about for no apparent reason [1].
Top Options For Treating Long-Term Back Pain
Your Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan may include one or more of the following:
Pharmacologic Treatments: your Pain Doctor could prescribe muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and other specific medications [1].
Injection-Based Treatments: after accessing various factors, your Pain Specialist may recommend injection-based procedures. These include: nerve ablations, epidural steroid injections, and nerve blocks. They are utilised when the root cause of the pain has been established by the Pain Specialist. Moreover, administering them may assist the Pain Doctor by ruling out certain causes linked to the patient’s chronic back pain [1].
Putting a Spotlight on Nerve Blocks
“Nerve blocks are procedures used for managing or preventing different types of pain. They’re often injections of medications intended for blocking pain from certain nerves. They’re good for pain relief, too” [2]
Nerve blocks involve the use of needles, and are normally amalgamated with a procedure known as ultrasound, fluoroscopy. – The latter is a device with a fluorescent screen that enables Pain Doctors to see CT scans and X-ray images. Moreover, this tool helps the Pain Specialist guide the needle with the utmost precision. In addition to the aforementioned, the Pain Doctor may employ low-level electrical stimulation in order to locate the precise nerve which is generating the chronic pain [2].
References
[1]. John Hopkins Medicine (2022). “7 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery.”
[2]. OIP (2020). “Chronic Back Pain Treatment Options – What’s Best For You?”
