Surgery is usually not required for herniated or bulged discs, and pain medications only temporarily mask pain while causing damage to the body. In fact, the failure of surgeries for herniated discs and other back pain conditions is so common that the medical community has actually dubbed the problem ‘Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.’
When I see patients suffering after surgery, I always wish I could have spoken to them before they went under the knife. For every type of pain patient, knowledge is the first step toward recovery.
For patients with back pain related to disc problems, there are number of treatment options available that address both the symptoms and cause of the condition. Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center incorporates a wide range of disciplines—traditional medical care, physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic—to reduce pain, increase movement, and resolve your disc problems.
I’m sure that many people suffering from herniated discs and bulging discs have a lot of questions. Let’s look at some of the most common inquiries:
What type of specialist should I visit?
Your best option is to visit a Medical Doctor specializing in pain management and musculoskeletal injuries. At Monmouth Pain and Rehab, our Medical Director is a Physiatrist, a doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). This type of doctor primarily uses physical means (physical therapy, spinal decompression, etc.) to address pain conditions.
But what if my pain is so bad that I can’t move?
A pain management specialist has a number of tools to help patients relieve pain and begin to move again. One option is the use of corticosteroid injections and/or an analgesic numbing agent. The purpose of this type of pain management for patients with disc problems is to help get the ball rolling on physical therapy and other drug-free, non-surgical treatments.
How can physical therapy help me?
Physical therapy includes both passive rehabilitation (low level laser therapy, ultrasound, electrotherapy, etc.) and active rehabilitation (exercise) to help minimize your pain and increase functioning. Even better, a physical therapy program can help you reduce the chance of future disc problems.
What is Spinal Decompression? How can it help me avoid surgery?
Spinal Decompression has two main functions: the first is that it helps to relieve pain by removing pressure on compressed nerves caused by bulging disc material. The other is that it can actually work to correct the herniation itself. By targeting the problematic discs, Spinal Decompression creates a vacuum effect in which negative pressure draws the annulus pulposus (the inner part of the disc) back into the disc’s protective covering.
Should I consider acupuncture for disc problems?
Absolutely. In continuing our mission to help patients reduce or eliminate the use of medications, we offer acupuncture as a natural, drug-free method of pain management for disc problems. While acupuncture cannot fix the disc injury, it is a helpful tool for avoiding pain and the harmful effects that pain may have on the body.
What about Chiropractic for disc problems?
Chiropractic is a useful tool for maintaining the health of the spine; this means that not only is chiropractic care a useful modality for treating disc problems, it is also an effective practice for keeping the body healthy in general. Chiropractic treatment for disc problems involves gentle adjustments to ensure healthy posture, a reduction in pain, and increased movement.
I’m in pain—where can I find all of these treatments?
Because I have dedicated my life’s work to helping patients reduce pain while improving their overall physical condition, I strongly urge you to contact our Red Bank, NJ pain management and rehabilitation center if you are experiencing back pain symptoms that may be related to disc injuries. At our Monmouth County facility, we have a pain management doctor on staff who works closely with our physical therapists, acupuncturist, and Chiropractic Doctors in creating comprehensive, conservative treatment plans to help patients avoid surgery and reduce pain.
