Advice from a Renowned Back Pain Dr Near Me In New Jersey

1. Prescription medication

When dealing with sciatica, the first bit of advice you’ll hear is to take a painkiller and wait for the pain to go away. Many individuals find relief with over-the-counter medication, and they can return to their pain-free lives within days, but if this type of medicine is ineffective, your doctor will prescribe a stronger option.

The types of pain relievers doctors usually prescribe are:

• Oral steroids, such as Prednisone
• Nonsteroidal medicine such as Ibuprofen
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline
• Opioid analgesics such as Oxycodone

The role of these pain relievers is to either alleviate the symptoms entirely or diminish them so that patients don’t feel discomfort during physical therapy or other treatment forms.

2. Physical therapy

Depending on your condition, your back pain doctor can recommend physical therapy either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other treatment methods to speed up the recovery process. It generally consists of a series of core-strengthening stretches and exercises that may be done at home or under the guidance of a skilled physical therapist.

Physical therapy can help with a lot of things, including strengthening the back muscles so that they can provide more support to the spine, improve flexibility and core strength, stimulate blood flow, and promote muscle relaxation.

With high discomfort, it may be a bit difficult to convince yourself to start moving, which is understandable. Still, incorporating light exercises into your daily routine is going to help your back more than anything else.

3. At-home pain management

Your doctor will likely advise you to make certain lifestyle adjustments as well as recommend specific care for your condition at home, in addition to adequate medical therapy. Inflammation and discomfort, for example, can be reduced with the use of hot and cold therapy, which is very easy to do at home.

If you have to sit for lengthy periods of time every day, your doctor may advise you to take regular standing breaks to relieve pressure on your lower back and prevent pain. To aid with muscle relaxation and nerve decompression, doctors recommend sleeping on your side with a cushion between the knees. Although not always recommended, you can also sleep on your back, with a pillow placed beneath the knees instead.

While it may seem counterintuitive, avoiding sedentarism is the key to preventing sciatica and can help you cope with it as well. To strengthen muscles, give additional support to your spine, and avoid bone degradation as you age, you should create a light workout routine and commit to it.

4. Chiropractic care

The goal of chiropractic therapy, commonly known as manual spinal manipulation, is to promote spinal alignment and pain relief. It’s been used for quite some time and, while not recommended with severe back conditions, it can help bring relief in an acute sciatic episode.

Chiropractic therapy has also been shown to be an effective treatment strategy for herniated discs and spinal stenosis when performed alone or in combination with other procedures.

5. Minimally invasive procedures

Many pain specialists believe that minimally invasive techniques are the most effective option to treat sciatica without having to see an orthopaedic surgeon. They can reduce pain, boost the effect of other treatment methods, and even help with diagnosis and pain localization.

Epidural steroid injections are one of the most recommended methods of treatment. Herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis are just a few examples of conditions these injections can help with. When injected into the epidural region, steroids spread to nerve terminals and relieve pain. Your doctor will use this treatment to try to manage the inflammation and diminish the immune system’s activity in order to reduce the formation of inflammatory cells.

Selective nerve root blockers are also effective treatment options that can help reduce inflammation and inhibit pain signals. During a single session, the procedure can be conducted on numerous nerve roots. Some patients report instant pain alleviation, while others require more than four weeks of therapy to see improvements.

As we’ve learned today, surgery is not the only option for treating sciatica or back pain. In fact, it’s not even among the first options!

At our spine center, our dedicated and experienced team of back specialists helps patients dealing with leg, hip, back, or neck pain find the most appropriate methods of treatment for their condition. By using state-of-the-art equipment and taking a close look at your medical history, our doctors will assist you in getting back to your everyday life in the shortest time possible. Keep in mind that we are available for phone general inquiries as well! You can book an appointment with Dr George Hanna, one of the best back pain Dr near me in New Jersey, at one of our pain clinics in Paramus on Route 17, near the Paramus Park Mall, in Clifton, NJ, on Route 46 E, past the Ford dealership, in West Orange, near the Essex Country Club, and in Woodland Park clinic, on McBride Avenue, right next to Woodland Park Dialysis Center.