
What does Pain Management Do for Back Pain?

Elements of Pain Management Treatment Plans
Medications
In addition to over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a licensed practitioner can also prescribe other drug therapies as appropriate to treat back pain. Oftentimes, stronger NSAIDs are the medication prescribed. However, certain side effects or severity of pain often requires other treatments either instead of or in coordination with prescription treatments for back pain.Chiropractic Care

Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is effective in treating and preventing future back pain by the practice of exercises to strengthen and stretch affected areas. While it sounds really simple, proper physical therapy often plays a fundamental role in a comprehensive pain management treatment plan and in ensuring that the execution of that plan results in optimal quality of life in the patient’s years to come.Ambulatory Surgical Procedures
While technically still a surgical procedure, ambulatory surgical procedures (ASP) are unique in that they are outpatient treatments that are more affordable and carry far less risk of infection when compared to traditional surgeries in hospital settings. Some of the ASP offered at Arrowhead Health Centers, for example, includes:- Epidural Steroid Injections: The use of anesthetic and steroid medications injected into the epidural space of the spine to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and/or diagnose a specific condition.
- Facet Injections: Injections used to provide pain relief and to determine if the facet joints are the source of pain.
- Medial Branch Blocks and Nerve Blocks: Injections performed to reduce inflammation and pain and to determine if a specific spinal nerve root is the source of pain.
- Radiofrequency Neuroablation: This procedure “turns off” pain signals by applying heated electrodes to specific nerves that carry pain signals to the brain.
- Sympathetic Block: A local anesthetic injection that blocks the nerve signals at various levels in the body to relieve pain.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation: The use of electrical impulses that are used to block pain from being perceived in the brain.
- Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA): A non-invasive procedure that treats acute and chronic conditions, including, neck pain, back pain, joint pain, fibrous adhesions, and long term pain syndromes.
At-Home Treatments for Back Pain

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