If you’ve had back pain for a while, chances are you’ve wondered if spine surgery is in your future. While it may be right for some people, spine surgery isn’t always the best treatment option – and it should never be the first line of defense. Sometimes nonsurgical spine treatments can be just as effective as surgery. So before you begin discussing spine surgery with your provider, try these six nonsurgical options first.Â
1. Physical Therapy
Before talking with you about spine surgery, your provider should first discuss physical therapy. Physical therapy is a great way to strengthen the back and improve flexibility, ultimately reducing pain and preventing future injury.Â
Even if surgery is needed, physical therapy may help you recover faster with fewer complications. In addition, a physical therapist can help you create an individualized rehabilitation program to follow after surgery.
2. Therapeutic Injections
When looking for conservative treatment options, therapeutic injections may be a good option to explore. This is because injections can help reduce inflammation as well as pain. In some cases, therapeutic injections can even help heal the spine.
Many different types of therapeutic injections can be used depending on the cause of your back pain. Some common types include epidural injections and corticosteroid injections. Exploring treatments such as therapeutic injections may help improve your spine health and relieve back pain.
3. Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is a non-surgical treatment used to relieve spine pain. The therapy involves stretching the spinal column to help ease pressure on the spine and nerves. This may improve spine health and significantly reduce pain.
If you have a herniated, bulging, or degenerative disc, it might be a good idea to try spinal decompression therapy before considering surgery. The DRX9000 machine is an FDA-approved device used for spinal decompression therapy.
The DRX9000 works by applying equal amounts of pressure to your vertebral column. By doing so, the DRX9000 gently stretches the spine and creates a gap between the spinal discs. This allows for more nutrients to flow through the spine, which promotes healing.
4. Heat and Cold Therapy
Heat and cold therapy are simple and effective treatments for spine pain. Heat therapy can help increase blood flow and relax muscles, while cold therapy can help reduce inflammation and numb pain.
For heat therapy, apply a heating pad to the affected area for 15-20 minutes at a time. For cold therapy, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area for 15-20 minutes at a time. Be sure not to apply ice directly to the skin.
5. Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to adjust the spine and relieve tension. Chiropractic care is an effective treatment for many spine conditions and could allow you to avoid spine surgery.
6. Contact Alliance Orthopedics
In addition to offering physical therapy, chiropractic care, and a range of pain management techniques, Alliance Orthopedics offers a variety of spine modalities that may help you avoid surgery.Â
These include:
- Laser therapyÂ
- Electronic stimulation
- Game Ready® technology
Each of these therapies offers unique benefits and can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Our world-renowned orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Alok Sharan and the rest of our multi-disciplinary team will work with you to identify the best treatments options available.
Alliance Orthopedics takes a well-rounded approach to spine care, starting with a thorough spine specialist examination. We then develop a spine treatment plan tailored to your individual needs in hopes of avoiding spine surgery.
Get Better
If you are considering spine surgery, we encourage you to try these conservative treatment options first. At Alliance Orthopedics, we offer a variety of spine treatments devoted to improving spine health and helping you get better faster. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.