PHYSICAL THERAPY
One of the keys to managing back pain or neck pain is to actively engage in rehabilitation and exercise. Physical therapy helps place patients on the right track by exercising weak points and regaining strength that may have been lost. An exercise program should be tailored to the individual’s condition and pain level, and include a combination of stretching, strengthening, and aerobic conditioning.
Some treatment options under physical therapy involves;
1. Kinesio Taping
Also known as Kinesio tape, or K tape for short, kinesiology tape is an elastic therapeutic tape used to support muscles and joints. Kinesiology tape has been used for decades in clinical settings and has become increasingly popular as viewers observe high-profile Olympic athletes using sports tapes.kinesiology tape supports the movement of joints while supporting muscles.can immediately relieve musculoskeletal pain and allow the body to return to normal function. Studies have shown that kinesiology tape is most effective for back pain when used conjunctively with other forms of physical therapy and pain management.
2. Electrotherapy
A powerful tool used by many physiotherapists, electrotherapy treats chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries, muscle wasting, and nerve pain by using targeted and controlled electrical stimulation. Electrotherapy is a gentle and non-invasive modality that works by stimulating nerves and muscles through the surface of the skin. Though it varies based on which device your practitioner uses, electrotherapy is thought to work in a variety of ways.it uses one of this method; TENS, ultrasound, Electroarcupunture, EMS and shock wave therapy.
3. Exercise Prescription
Most people know regular exercise will improve their appearance and general health, but few realize the positive effects that good physical conditioning can have on their low back pain. Many studies show improvements of low back pain in individuals who increase their core strength and flexibility.
4. Mobilisation
Joint mobilization is a hands-on treatment that is frequently performed by physical therapists (healthcare professionals specializing in rehabilitation for movement disorders) and chiropractors (alternative-health professionals treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, muscles, and soft tissue). This manual technique involves applying targeted forces on a painful, stiff, or otherwise compromised joint in order to improve its overall function. While not appropriate in all situations, joint mobilizations may help improve your range of motion, reduce your pain, and minimize your stiffness.
5. Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy puts less pressure on your spine than land-based physical therapy, so it could be particularly well-suited for managing your back pain.Water therapy offers multiple advantages such as buoyancy and resistance, which provide support and strengthening, respectively.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT
Options exist beyond surgery and medication to help you deal with your pain, but it can be difficult to know whether an alternative treatment will help reduce your pain and suffering. Whether you're considering acupuncture, massage therapy, diet changes, yoga, pilates, tai chi, chiropractic, or physical therapy to help provide pain relief, deeper knowledge and insight into these alternatives is vital to successful pain recovery.
Some treatment options under alternative care includes;
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves careful insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific points on your body. This may stimulate the release of your natural pain-killing chemicals.
2. Massage Therapy
Most people enjoy a massage, but few think about its benefits.Research shows that massage therapy provides several health benefits, including improved circulation, improved range of motion, and increased endorphin levels (which helps improve mood and decrease chronic pain effects).
3. Cupping
Cupping therapy is an ancient healing method that may ease back pain, neck pain, headaches and other issues. It uses suction to pull on your skin and increase blood flow to the affected area.
4. Yoga
People who suffer from ongoing or recurrent bouts of back pain often have to try a number of different forms of exercise to find the most appropriate therapy to manage their pain. For many, yoga has proven to be a safe and effective way to finally alleviate many forms of back pain or neck pain and help prevent ongoing problems.
5. Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health profession focused on treating spinal and musculoskeletal problems primarily through manual manipulation. A chiropractor does not prescribe medication, but relies on a variety of manual therapies, including spinal manipulation, mobilization, and adjunctive therapies, to improve function and provide pain relief.
BACK SURGERY
If surgery for neck or back pain necessary? Sometimes. It is reasonable to consider spine surgery if the pain has not diminished after months of non-surgical treatment, if pain does not respond , or if you're unable to complete basic daily activities. Some surgery options are minimally invasive (microdiscectomy for a herniated disc) and allow for quick recovery, while other types of surgery (a posterolateral fusion for degenerative disc disease) are more extensive.
Surgery management options include;
1. Spinal Fusion
Two or more vertebrae are permanently fused together to limit excess spinal motion. Your surgeon will use a combination of bone, bonelike material, screws, plates and rods to hold the vertebrae together so they can heal into a single unit. Spinal fusion may be done to correct spinal deformities or to increase the spine’s stability in severe cases of spinal osteoarthritis or herniated discs.
2. Laminectomy and Laminotomy
Laminectomy is a surgery in which your surgeon removes the back portion of one or more vertebrae to create more space for the spinal cord or other nerves. In people with severe arthritis, bone spurs within the spinal canal can grow large enough to press on the spinal cord, causing pain and limiting mobility. In a similar surgery known as laminotomy, your surgeon will remove a small piece of bone called the lamina from the back of the vertebra.
3. Discectomy and Microdiscectomy
When a herniated disc in the lower back is causing severe symptoms like pain or loss of sensation, your surgeon might operate to remove a portion of the damaged disc. When the surgeon operates through standard incisions in your back, the surgery is known as a discectomy. When the surgeon uses a minimally invasive technique and small incisions, the surgery is called a microdiscectomy. Discectomies are rarely performed anymore due to the safety, effectiveness, ease and low rate of complications that microdiscectomy brings to the table.
4. Artificial Disc Replacement
When a herniated disc in the lower back is causing severe symptoms like pain or loss of sensation, your surgeon might operate to remove a portion of the damaged disc. When the surgeon operates through standard incisions in your back, the surgery is known as a discectomy. When the surgeon uses a minimally invasive technique and small incisions, the surgery is called a microdiscectomy. Discectomies are rarely performed anymore due to the safety, effectiveness, ease and low rate of complications that microdiscectomy brings to the table.
EMERGING TREATMENT OPTIONS
In some cases, doctors suggest therapies that are not considered current “standard of care.” They probably won’t be covered by insurance, but they may be worth considering. Examples include:
1. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
PRP treatments use a small sample of your own blood that has concentrated amounts of blood building blocks known as platelets. Your doctor then injects the PRP directly into a damaged disc. The theory is that PRP injections use your own healing system to accelerate improvement of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. PRP treatment has a longer track record in knee osteoarthritis, but a 2018 review in the Journal of Spine Surgery suggests it may have a useful role for back pain, too. PRP needs a lot more research before it can be considered a proven technique.
2. Stem Cells
In this emerging treatment, your doctor injects stem cells harvested from your hip into the intervertebral disc or discs causing your pain. Doing so may lessen pain and the degenerative effects of aging, though, like PRP, more research is needed before stem cells for lower back pain could eventually become the standard of care.