Lower back pain is an all-too-common cause of misery among millions of Americans—it is one of the top reasons for lost days at work. Lower back pain can result from a variety of factors, including injury, overuse, wear and tear, and certain medical conditions.
If you’re experiencing lower back pain, you will greatly benefit from the expertise of a physiatrist or interventional pain management doctor, who can perform a detailed evaluation of your condition and devise a custom treatment plan.
There are a number of advanced, nonsurgical treatment approaches available for lower back pain. These are often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture for enhanced treatment results.
Here are a few of the treatment approaches your doctor may recommend for your lower back pain.
Facet Injections
Facet injections are an image-guided, minimally invasive procedure used for addressing lower back pain caused by facet joint syndrome, a condition characterized by inflammation of the facet joints (the connections between the bones of the spine). The procedure involves injecting the facet joint capsule or surrounding tissue with a corticosteroid combined with an anesthetic medication.
Your doctor may recommend facet injections if you have lower back pain that is not alleviated by conservative interventions (massage, medications, physical therapy, etc.).
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of a radiofrequency needle to create a heat lesion on the nerve fibers, thereby blocking the pain signals they transmit to the brain. Radiofrequency ablation can provide effective relief for chronic lower back pain caused by arthritis.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
This is an innovative treatment that involves extracting and isolating (platelet-rich) plasma from a small amount of a patient’s own blood to promote the body’s natural healing process. The platelets contain important growth factors and proteins that help to repair and replace damaged cells.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is an injection-based treatment for persistent lower back pain caused by ligament injury. The injection contains a potential irritant that, when administered, triggers inflammation and causes the body to increase blood flow to the area, thereby repairing the damaged ligaments.
Nucleoplasty
If the cause of your back pain is a bulging disc, your doctor may recommend nucleoplasty, which is another minimally invasive, image-guided procedure. Nucleoplasty involves the use of a small needle that emits radio waves to dissolve excess tissue, shrink the disc bulge, and relieve pressure on the nerves, thereby alleviating pain and restoring mobility.
Lower Back Pain Relief in Wilmington and Dover, DE
At Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers our multidisciplinary team of highly skilled healthcare professionals has provided effective, long-lasting pain relief to thousands of patients for over three decades. You can rest assured that we can help you as well.
To arrange a consultation with one of our providers, call us at one of our 7 locations or use our online request form to schedule an appointment today.
