Let's Get Physical

by Dr. Steven Warfield

Physical therapy (Photo credit: United States Forces - Iraq (Inactive))

Everyone experiences back pain from time to time.  Many times a bit of rest and perh

aps an ice pack is all it takes to make the discomfort go away.  However, when back pain persists for more than a couple of weeks, it’s time to consider some measure of physical therapy. The goal of back pain therapy is to reduce the level of pain, increase function and mobility, and provide education designed to prevent future occurrences.

Back pain therapy may be done through the use of heat/ice packs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) units, Vax-D and ultrasound, as well as more active procedures such as stretching, strengthening, and low impact aerobic conditioning. It usually takes about two weeks to determine a patient’s progress, and hopefully be able to predict the duration of the treatment.

Of course every patient is different, and the duration will largely depend on the individual, the severity of the injury, and how willing they are to work hard towards resolving it. The physicians at The Back Institute are ready to assist you with your back pain therapy and rehabilitation needs.

“I was experiencing pain in my low back which radiated into my hips and legs. The worst problem was my sciatic nerve. The pain running down my right leg was intense. I could only stand for about two minutes. I have had pain for about six months and have not been able to exercise, shop, or do any activities that involved standing. I have had VAX-D, physical therapy, adjustments, and trigger point injections. My low back pain has decreased and my leg pain has also improved. This is a wonderful caring place to be. The staff has been wonderful. I will miss everyone and would recommend VAX-D to anyone.” 

-- Judy Molique

Other Treatments may include:

Vax-D - 50% of adults experience a back or neck injury during their lifetime.  The bad news is that depending upon the nature and severity of the injury, many times this has meant surgery followed by a long, slow, painful recovery.  The good news is that modern advances in medical technology have produced a non-surgical alternative to going under the knife for many people.  Some would call this a miracle.  We refer to it by its trade name: VAX-D.

More precisely called vertebral axial decompression therapy, VAX-D is a computer controlled machine that works by slowly lengthening and decompressing the spine creating a negative pressure within the discs.  This reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that not only takes pressure off pinched nerves, but helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place. Read more here.

Effective pain relief: Philips TensRelief Pain Management Devices Help Pain Sufferers Lead an Active Life with Less Pain (Photo credit: Philips Communications)

ELECTROTHERAPY– Electrotherapy is the application of micro-electrical current to the body for therapeutic purposes.  This also sounds a bit intimidating at first glance, but electrotherapy is simply the use of several electronic devices that can prevent muscle atrophy and spasms, increase or maintain range of motion, and alleviate pain. EMS gently and safely contracts and relaxes muscles to soothe and help them recover from injury, fatigue and/or soreness.  EMS units work by sending weak electrical impulses that stimulate targeted muscle groups. Read more here. 

MASSAGE - Massage has been used to treat stress and pain for thousands of years.  Written 

references to the effects of massage have been cited in such places as ancient Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia.  While the treatment fell out of favor during the 1940’s, by the early 70’s a new resurgence of the therapy was seen as everyone from celebrities to athletes sung its praises.  Today, massage is an accepted and popular form of therapy with more than 18 million adults in the US and more than 700,000 children having received massage therapy in 2010 alone.

While the term “massage” is uniformly used to describe the manipulation of muscles and soft tissues of the body, there are actually dozens of different forms of massage, including Balinese, Barefoot, Deep Tissue, Metamorphic, Myofascial, Pediatric, Shiatsu, Swedish and Trigger Point, just to name a few.  Many forms of massage are performed while lying down, while others are performed in a seated position.  Specialized massage tables and ergonomic chairs have been designed to allow the patient to relax while the practitioner plies his or her trade.  Specialized tools and massage oils have also been developed to enhance the effects of treatment. Read more here.

In Conclusion

While most of us have been conditioned to rely on pain killers to  combat pain, before you reach for 

that bottle of pills remember that masking the pain and truly alleviating pain are two different things.  If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic back pain, contact a health professional that specializes in helping patients achieve long term pain relief. 

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments forback pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis,  visit http://endyourpain.org