Back pain is common, disabling and costly. More than 80 percent of adults will suffer from back pain in their lives. In the last year alone, over half of all working Americans have reported suffering from back pain. The cost to society is immense—$50 billion is spent annually on back pain therapies.
Traditional therapies for back pain include physical therapy, aquatic therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Aleve) and non-opioid analgesics (Tylenol). If these modalities are ineffective, the patient might consider injection therapy.
Injection therapies include epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation.
Epidurals decrease inflammation and thereby pain. Radiofrequency ablation removes the nerve supply to the arthritis joint, thereby preventing the transmission of pain information from the joint to the brain and can decrease pain for years.
These minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures are done in a doctor’s office. The procedures are completed within minutes and require no down time and no restrictions afterwards.
If you are suffering from back pain, contact your interventional pain treatment specialist today to learn more.
