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Back pain can be caused by injury, diseases or degeneration due to aging. It becomes chronic when the pain is recurring or doesn't let up. Long-term back pain requires a sound management plan to avoid reliance on narcotics, which can be addictive and even ineffective for some degrees of pain. Pain medicine is a newer medical discipline that studies the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation and treatments for pain. Finding a doctor specializing in pain medicine is a good start for dealing with chronic back pain. First options for pain relief include physical therapy, exercise and medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Advil to reduce inflammation and block pain. Alternative treatment options include seeing a chiropractor, massage therapy or acupuncture. Herbs like skullcap, turmeric, willow bark, St. John's wort, angelica, cayenne and boswellia can reduce inflammation and offer some pain relief. If the pain continues, more invasive options are available, such as corticosteroid injections or implanting a pump that administers longer-lasting opiod drugs, like Opana, on a regular basis. If other options don't work, your doctor might offer surgery to repair the injury, fuse the spine or laminectomy, a procedure performed on nerve roots in the lower spine to relieve pressure and ease pain.Pain Medicine
Conservative Treatments
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by ppropp on October 14th, 2010
Non-US clinics routinely perform multi-level disc replacement, a procedure that is hardly ever performed in the US and is viewed by many as an appropriate therapy for chronic back pain.
If you'd like to learn more about multi-level disk replacement, contact HealthGlobe at the following address: http://www.myhealthglobe.com/medical-travel-procedures.asp/category/Spinal/medical-travel/Total+Disc+Replacement/proid/58
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Narcotics are often prescribed for chronic Back Pain but they are not to be used lightly. Here is a look at the benefits and risks of using this powerful class of drugs to relieve back pain.
Available Drugs
Opioid narcotics include codeine (Tylenol #3), hydrocodone (Vicodin), propoxyphene (Darvocet) and oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet). Opioids are derived from the poppy plant.
How They Work
# Narcotics interfere with the transmission of pain messages to the brain and alter the perception of pain.
Treatment
# Narcotics are illegal without a prescription, and doctors are often hesitant to prescribe them. Used properly, however, they can be effective in the relief of chronic back pain.
Side Effects
# Common side effects of prescription narcotics include drowsiness, nausea, constipation and respiratory difficulty. Combining narcotics with other medications can result in more dangerous effects.
The Risks
# Consult closely with your doctor if you are prescribed a narcotic.
by james diesen on October 22nd, 2009
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by james diesen on October 22nd, 2009