Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missing work and activities you love in life. It not only causes discomfort but may turn debilitating if you do not take timely action and seek proper treatment. Visit Redefine Healthcare if your back is hurting from sitting, or you experience discomfort every time you try to move or stand up after sitting for a long time.

Dr. Eric Freeman is aboard certified and experienced physician and has successfully treated patients suffering from various spine disorders. He helps you understand if it is a poor posture or some underlying medical condition causing trouble. The specialist uses the most advanced minimally invasive treatments to alleviate your pain effectively and ensures it does not cause any problems in the future. 

Pain in the upper or lower back is a common problem that usually results from leaning forward to look at a computer screen or a phone display for long periods. Sitting behind a big desk and working all day long may earn you a good salary, but it can also get you back pain if you are not careful and take care of your spine. Prolonged sitting can harm your body and lead to various spine and pain disorders.

Sometimes watching television for hours or sitting in an uncomfortable chair can also throw the back out of alignment and cause feelings of stiffness when you move or stand up. It could also be a result of some injury, activity, or underlying medical condition that needs diagnosis.

Focusing on the causes and factors that can worsen the pain or complicate your condition can help you seek the most effective treatment and preventive options to address this problem successfully.

What Causes Back Pain From Sitting at Your Desk?

It may come as a surprise, but something as simple and natural as sitting can cause chronic and debilitating pain in some people. It is essential to understand that when we talk about the spine, there is nothing simple or easy about it.

Our back consists of the spine, various muscle groups, and myriad nerve endings. Pain or discomfort in any of these regions would be classified as back pain. It is important to note that the most common reason for lower back pain from sitting is caused by your posture. Sitting down for too long can actually push the body out of alignment, and poor posture behind the desk can be one of the reasons for back ache.

Also, if you keep sitting for too long, the discs in your vertebrae may start losing their cushioning. As a result, you will experience sharp, chronic pain, especially when sitting. You must also know that back is not the only part of the body that hurts after prolonged sitting. Neck pain can also result from sitting for extended period and in most cases, these problems occur together.

Most Common Causes of Back Pain

Some of the most common reasons why so many people experience back pain while sitting include:

• Sciatica
• Herniated disc
• Muscle strain
• Degenerative disc disease/ osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Poor posture
• Lack of physical activity or being out of shape

Determining the causes of back pain is crucial for deciding the best course of treatment. Unless you get to the root of the problem, you cannot take a specific approach to address it successfully.

How to Recognize Back Pain From Sitting?

The most important question is to determine if your back pain is caused by sitting and not something else. You may experience back pain from some other condition related to the back, neck, or nerve, or it could be resulting from muscle tension, some injury, or sleeping the wrong way.

To get the right diagnosis, you must answer the following questions honestly:

• Are you leading a sedentary lifestyle?
• Is your chair ergonomic?
• Are you slouching behind your desk?
• Has the pain evolved gradually?

Answers to these questions may help you solve your problems without wasting time.

Is Sitting a Problem – Does It Cause Back Pain?

The truth is that back ache is not just all about sitting. If sitting was the only cause of back pain, almost everyone would be suffering from this problem in one way or another.

Sitting causes back pain in the following circumstances:

• When you are sitting in an improper chair
• You sit for too long
• You continue to sit in an unhealthy position
• You ignore these problems for far too long

It may seem like the perfect coincidence, all the factors coming together. However, people working a desk or computer job can relate to all these factors that align and may have even experienced back pain from sitting at a desk for long hours.

It is best to do a bit of research on the concept of sitting the right way to determine if you are doing anything wrong. It will give you an idea of what lifestyle and career choices you can make to prevent further pain and discomfort.

Is It Possible to Treat This Back Pain?

There are several ways to fix and treat this back pain. It depends on the place of origin of the problem and the part of the back it is affecting.

While it seems to be the best option to rest your back by sitting rather than standing, in many cases a bad sitting posture can aggravate the problem. Maintaining the correct sitting position and keeping core muscles toned to support the spine can help to treat and prevent this pain to a large extent.

In most cases, the course of action is pretty obvious.

You need to do the following to seek relief:

• Fix your sitting posture
• Invest in better, ergonomic furniture
• Lose some weight
• Strengthen your back muscles with exercise
• Strengthen your core muscles

To cover it all and ensure you do not experience back pain frequently, you will have to focus on the factors contributing to the problem to come up with the best solution. In rare cases, you may have to go for surgical operations available for spine-related injuries if the need arises.

Healthcare experts group the treatment approaches into two categories:

Home Remedies for Relieving Back Pain

Home remedies that help you relieve back pain at home include:

• Applying ice – Cold reduces the inflammation affecting your back and causing pain. Put an ice pack, covered in a towel, on the painful area for about 20 minutes, after every few hours or so.
• Heating pad – After controlling the inflammation with ice, use a heating pad to relax the muscles, increase the flow of blood to the affected area, and promote healing.
• Using support for the affected area – Placing a rolled-up towel or a special lumbar pillow at the base of your spine while sitting makes you sit up straight and provides stability for the spine.
• Over-the-counter medication – Over-the-counter pain-relieving medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help to reduce the discomfort and swelling associated with back pain.
• Yoga or alternate therapies – Yoga and other related therapies help the body stretch and strengthen the muscles.
• Go for a massage – A good massage can loosen up the tight and stiff muscles and help you relax.
• Change your posture – Go for a standing desk or one that has been ergonomically designed to your posture to prevent back and neck pain.

These proactive approaches provide effective solutions and give you a chance to battle back pain resulting from prolonged sitting.

Medical Treatments

The best way to tackle back pain is to seek the help of a medical professional with experience in treating people who suffered from lower back pain due to sitting. Your doctor may recommend treatments depending on the severity of the back ache.

Some of the best medical treatments include:

• Physical therapy – It is a reliable method of strengthening the back muscles to provide more support for the back.
• Prescription medication – Muscle relaxants, antidepressants, analgesics, nerve blockers, and steroid injections are known to work in such cases as they alleviate intense and recurring pain.
• Surgery – In rare cases, surgery is usually the last resort for relieving back pain when no other option offers a long-term solution.

Discuss your symptoms with the doctor to have your condition accurately diagnosed and get the best advice for your discomfort. As a sedentary lifestyle and a desk job are prerequisites to back pain from sitting, he recommends the most effective treatment plan depending on the severity of the symptoms to relieve your pain.

Warning Signs to Watch Out For

Back pain from sitting usually clears up with better sitting posture, gentle stretching and exercise, and massage that loosens the tensed muscles. However, you must be careful of the warning signs and see a doctor immediately if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Persistent pain that does not improve with home remedies or over-the-counter medications
• Tingling or numbness in the back or legs
• Fever
• Weakness
• Loss of bladder or bowel function
• Unexplained loss of weight
• Inability to move easily

These symptoms may be a warning sign of a serious medical condition that must be checked by a medical professional right away.

Do not take your back pain lightly or leave it untreated, as it can worsen and lead to further complications. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Freeman at Redefine Healthcare to determine its possible causes and what measures can alleviate the pain. The pain specialist evaluates and diagnoses your condition based on your symptoms or level of discomfort and comes up with the best treatment plans to keep your back in its best possible shape. You can look forward to comprehensive, highest-quality care for your spine and back-related issues as the experts focus on addressing the source of your pain to enhance your quality of life.

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The holidays are right around the corner. Whether it’s planning a safe family gathering or last-minute holiday shopping, the holidays add extra responsibilities and stress to your already busy schedule. Add in increased time with family members or worries about COVID-19, and you’re most likely feeling more stressed than usual.

Stress and pain, unfortunately, go hand-in-hand for chronic pain sufferers. As stress can exacerbate chronic pain, you may be feeling it more than usual this time of year, with no time to slow down. There may not be a way to totally eliminate stress or pain from your life, but you can take steps to manage it. Here are Redefine Healthcare’s best tips to limit stress-related pain.

Eat Well & Stay Hydrated

While we would never ask you to pass on your sister’s delicious homemade apple pie, you should be conscious of the extra sugar, carbs, and gluten you may be consuming at holiday meals. Enjoy good food and good company, but don’t go overboard; poor nutrition isn’t doing anything for your body, and not to mention, extra weight can put extra strain on your joints.

*Dehydration can also affect bones and joints, resulting in stiffness and soreness. Be sure to drink plenty of water!

Exercise

Exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re stressed or in pain, but getting some movement in, even something as simple as a walk, can make you feel better. Exercise can both boost your mood and ease some of your pain. “Motion is lotion,” and making a conscious effort to add movement into your day can provide some relief to stiff joints.

Take Time To Rest

When you’re allocating your time and planning out activities, make sure to set aside some for yourself. First and foremost, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Not only can lack sleep make your stress worse, but it can also make the pain worse too. Your body needs rest to repair itself, and if you aren’t getting enough, you’re doing a disservice to yourself.

Get Help!

If you’re in pain, you should see a specialist. There are a ton of simple, non-surgical options available for pain management. At Redefine Healthcare, we offer chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, and interventional treatments like corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and more. Schedule a consultation with one of our pain management doctors by calling (732) 906-9600 or at https://redefinehealthcare.com/

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Those who experience joint, neck, or back pain throughout the year understand the weather’s impact on pain levels. As the air gets colder, the fluid in your joints moves less freely, making joints stiff and painful. The cold also causes your body to contract, making your muscles more reluctant to stretch.

If you’re feeling the effects of the colder weather this year, see the experts at Redefine Healthcare. Here are 3 pain management techniques we offer that can help relieve some of your pain this winter:

Chiropractic Manipulation

In colder temperatures, your muscles are reluctant to stretch out, preferring instead to draw in in an attempt to stay warm. Rigid and inflexible muscles can lead to a higher likelihood of injury, in addition to existing pain. Our chiropractors can help keep stiffness at bay with regular chiropractic adjustments to keep your muscles and joints loose and flexible.

Physical Therapy

An exercise plan put together by our physical therapists can help you manage pain year-round. Physical therapy is a recommended method for battling stiffness or soreness in the winter for the simple fact that movement creates heat in your body. Jumping rope, stretching, and other simple exercises help to warm up your muscles and keep them from getting too stiff.

Joint Injections

For deeper pain that may not just be a cause of stiff muscles, Redefine Healthcare offers non-surgical treatments for pain management, including steroid injections. Steroid injections are administered by a pain management physician. Depending on the location of your pain, medication, often an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory solution, is injected into a joint or space in order to decrease inflammation and irritation in the targeted area.

At Redefine Healthcare, we aim to provide all the tools you need to manage your pain year-round. If you find yourself suffering more than usual over the colder months, schedule an appointment with one of our pain specialists to learn how we can help by calling (732) 906-9600 or at https://redefinehealthcare.com/

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As we get older, staying healthy and active becomes more important than ever. Even though your muscles and bones may not be as strong as they once were, you can still enjoy a full, normal life taking part in the activities that you enjoy. Unfortunately, many seniors experience problems such as chronic pain and other physical issues caused by age-related deterioration of the body. The good news is that chiropractic care offers numerous benefits for the aging population, from a reduced risk of falls to enhanced mobility. Here are some of these benefits.

Pain Relief

Chiropractic care is an extremely safe and effective way to treat the pain that can accompany many age-related spinal conditions. One reason that this therapy is so effective is that chronic pain is often related to abnormalities of the spine itself or the surrounding soft tissues. Chiropractors are trained specifically to identify and treat spine misalignments to address their effect on the body. In addition to causing a range of unpleasant side effects, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs simply mask painful symptoms. Chiropractic care treats the underlying issue, reducing the need for such medications.

Improved Range of Motion

Chiropractic care is known to increase the range of motion, not only in the spine but in the extremities as well. Maximizing a person’s range of motion improves their quality of life in many ways. For example, an improved range of motion may mean the ability to garden without pain, bend down to pick up grandchildren or play golf with the guys again. In many cases, patients experience an increased range of motion immediately following their chiropractic treatments. Incidentally, many pro sports teams have their own chiropractors for this very reason.

Reduced Fall Risk

Falls that result in injuries are extremely common among older individuals. In fact, according to the CDC, 30 million adults fall every year, leading to some 30,000 deaths. One out of every five falls results in a serious injury, and 300,000 adults are hospitalized each year for hip fractures. More than 95 % of these hip fractures are caused by falling. Chiropractic care can reduce these risks through the administration of chiropractic adjustments that normalize the cervical spine. Chiropractors can also prescribe specific exercises and stretches designed to boost strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and mobility.

Reduced Primary Care Costs

Receiving regular chiropractic treatments can help seniors cut down on the number of primary care visits they’ll need, reducing overall healthcare costs. Furthermore, chiropractic care may even help keep patients out of nursing homes for longer by improving strength, mobility, and overall well-being. People who receive chiropractic care are more likely to be active, less likely to be hospitalized, and less likely to require full-time care in a nursing home.

At Redefine Healthcare, we offer a range of chiropractic services, pain management, physical therapy, sports medicine, and more. We happily accept Medicare and help many elderly individuals regain their independence and quality of life. With chiropractic services now available in both our Paterson and Edison facilities, it is easier to get the care you or a loved one deserves. Contact us today for a consultation and to get moving!

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If you experience knee pain, you may assume that you have a knee problem – but that’s not always the case. While a knee condition may indeed cause knee pain, it may also be caused by a problem with your back, such as a pinched nerve or a disc protrusion. The lower back contains nerves that transmit sensation to the legs and feet.

On occasion, an injury or simply age can cause the discs in this area to press on these nerves. This compression can cause the nerves to send out pain signals, resulting in pain in the lower back itself – or along the nerve pathways in the legs, knees, ankles, and even feet. Your physician can diagnose the cause of your back or knee pain and help determine what treatments will be right for you. Some of the possibilities include:

1. Physical Therapy

Working with a physical therapist includes identifying the cause of your pain and designing treatments to address the underlying cause and provide effective relief. In general, when you arrive for your physical therapy appointment, you can expect consultation and an exam to evaluate your gait, any abnormalities in your bones or joints, your range of motion, your strength, your balance, and any signs of injury. Then, your physical therapist will prescribe a treatment plan tailored to your needs that may include exercises, stretches, and other therapies such as massage or the application of heat or ice.

2. Chiropractic Manipulation

Another possible path to relief is chiropractic care. A chiropractor may help treat the underlying issues that are causing your discomfort using chiropractic techniques designed to alleviate pain and help improve your overall health. Typically, a chiropractor will have a variety of possible angles of approach to treating pain, from applying ice to reduce inflammation to using massage techniques to increase range of motion to using chiropractic manipulation to help mobilize areas of restricted movement.

3. Spinal Cord Stimulators

If you are experiencing back pain or knee pain that originates in the back, then a spinal cord stimulator might be a good option for you. Spinal cord stimulation is often used when non-surgical pain relief measures have been unsuccessful. This treatment can be used to address many different types of chronic pain, including back pain, post-surgical pain, and more. Spinal cord stimulation is often a good choice for patients who have not had good results from medications and other minimally invasive therapies and those without psychiatric disorders, which can reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

4. Medication

There is a range of medications that can help treat back and knee pain. These drugs are often used with other treatments such as physical therapy or chiropractic treatments to achieve optimal relief. Medication options include:

• NSAIDs are frequently the first line of defense when it comes to back and knee pain. These drugs help decrease inflammation and, therefore, pain.
• Opioids may be an option in patients with severe pain that does not respond to other treatments. These drugs are generally safe when used for short periods.
• Muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants are available by prescription and reduce pain by affecting the central nervous system. This type of medication usually causes drowsiness.
• Even if you aren’t depressed, antidepressants may help relieve your pain. Some research has shown that certain antidepressants are effective in reducing chronic pain.

Redefine Healthcare is a Tier-One, In-Network provider comprised of top-rated, board-certified physicians specializing in minimally invasive procedures that afford patients a pain-free lifestyle without surgery. Four minimally invasive ways Redefine Healthcare can treat back pain are:

1. Epidural Steroid Injections: There’s a reason epidural steroid injections are the most commonly administered injection; they effectively relieve back pain. As the name indicates, a steroid is injected into the epidural region of the spine. Epidural injections can be used to treat sciatica, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, or disc herniation.
2. Radiofrequency Ablation: This safe and effective treatment for back pain utilizes a radio wave to send an electric current that heats nerve tissue, effectively numbing the pain receptors of the nerve.
3. Facet Joint Injections: The facet joints are small joints along the spine that help provide stability and mobility and can become painful from arthritis or injury. The steroid medication injected into the facet joints can relieve pain, allowing the patient to endure a physical therapy or rehabilitation routine better.
4. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Used by professional athletes, PRP Therapy involves placing a blood sample from the patient into a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets in the blood by separating them from the plasma. The PRP injected into the pain area is meant to encourage more efficient healing, attributed to the healing and clotting properties of the concentrated platelets.

At Redefine Healthcare, we focus on non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments for back and knee pain of all types. Contact us today for a consultation to learn more about your options.

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Redefine Healthcare is excited to announce our new physical therapist, Dr. Bhumi Patel, PT, DPT as our newest addition to the Physical Therapy Division.

Educational Background

While Dr. Bhumi Patel is Redefine Healthcare’s new physical therapist, she is not new to the world of physical therapy. Dr. Bhumi Patel received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University in New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is certified in Blood Flor Restriction Training and LSVT-BIG Program. Dr. Patel has worked in a variety of settings including home-care and outpatient clinics, with prior internships as a student in sub-acute rehab and acute hospital care. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Specialties

By incorporating evidence-based literature into her treatment program, Dr. Patel strives to keep her patients engaged and active in the community. Aside from treating musculoskeletal and spine disorders, Dr. Patel has a special interest in vestibular rehabilitation. With a passion for movement science, Dr. Patel has been treating patients with orthopedic, neurologic, gait, and balance diagnoses at Redefine Healthcare. Dr. Patel believes in providing excellent care to her patients with empathy and compassion to help them reach their functional goals in their recovery process. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling.

If you would like more information about our new physical therapist or Physical Therapy Division, please contact us at (732) 313-2610.

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Redefine Healthcare would like to wish you well during these difficult times. We understand that our patients still need care and will thus be keeping our doors open. We would like to assure you that we are following all preparedness and prevention guidelines established by the CDC to protect our patients and staff. Our patient’s health and wellness are our utmost priority.

Additionally, we are now offering Telemedicine Pain Management appointments to patients who might not feel comfortable coming into the office. During these telemedicine appointments, one of our board-certified physicians will conduct a thorough screening of your symptoms over the phone. To the best of their ability, they will then suggest an appropriate coarse of action for you.

We wish you all safe and well.

Please call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 313-2610 for the most up-to-date news on the status of our practice or to schedule your appointment.

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Great news!

Beginning this March, Redefine Healthcare will now be offering Chiropractic treatment at our Edison location. If you live near Edison, your drive to access excellent chiropractic services will be a lot shorter—but drive safely! The after-effects of a car accident represent one of the leading reasons why people visit their chiropractor’s office. We are an excellent resource for addressing pain management and building strength to decrease recovery time after an accident occurs.

For most people, pain is inevitable at some point in their lives, but taking preventive measures increases the likelihood of recovering more quickly or avoiding injury altogether.

Prevention

Your spinal health is vital to your productive and active lifestyle. Taking preventative steps increases your ability to build strength and flexibility.

• Preventive chiropractic care increases your range of motion by boosting flexibility. When your muscles and joints are tight, you are at an increased risk of straining them, even during your light daily routines. Adjustments improve your joints’ ability to move so that your muscles can do their work.
• Your spine supports your body. A chiropractor’s adjustment will improve your posture, which has a direct effect on the neck, back, and leg areas. The more you stand or sit up straight, the less likely it is that you’ll experience minor aches and pains.
• Have you noticed minor pain? You may think that it isn’t worth addressing unless it worsens, but focusing on the issue earlier means that you can stop it before it becomes problematic.

You can stay one step ahead of aches and pains if you visit our offices as a preventive gift to yourself. If you do face a sports injury or find yourself rear-ended in an automobile accident, you will have a stronger and more flexible body to begin the healing process with as you pursue care.

Car Accidents

No amount of prevention can protect you from another person rear-ending you in an auto accident. The good news is that chiropractors are an excellent resource to address these kinds of injuries.

When someone hits your car from behind, forces measuring thousands of pounds impact your supporting tissues around the spine and neck. These tissues, ligaments, and vertebral discs stretch and tear, disrupting your joints. Spinal shifting and misalignment add up to the potential for a lot of aches and pains.

Pain from a car accident may not appear for days or even weeks after the accident. Pain medication does a satisfying job at masking the pain. However, a chiropractor will get to the underlying injury, whether it is a spinal issue or whiplash.

The Long-Term Solution to Managing Pain

Chiropractic care will address lost mobility after an injury. Adjustment relieves the pressure on the nerves and muscles as it realigns the spine. There are times when the pain goes away immediately upon alignment. Corrective exercises increase the body’s full range of motion, relieving even more pain.

Your long-term solution to supporting your body’s natural healing process begins with that first drive to your chiropractor’s office. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to relieve pain and build a healthier spinal structure to prepare for the unexpected.

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Redefine Healthcare wishes you a Happy New Year! To start the new year off, we are excited to announce the opening of our newest office locations in West Caldwell and Teaneck. In addition to our Union, Edison, Clifton, and Paterson locations Redefine Healthcare looks forward to treating even more patients in Teaneck and West Caldwell by providing relief and guidance to those suffering from chronic pain.

It is our pleasure to have Dr. Christine Pfisterer join our team of dedicated providers, led by Dr. Eric Freeman. As of January 1^st, 2020, Dr. Pfisterer is offering interventional pain management treatments in both Teaneck and Paterson. Having completed her residency at UMDNJ-Newark, Dr. Pfisterer is board-certified and fellowship-trained in Pain Medicine, as well as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Located at 870 Palisade Ave, Suite 205 in Teaneck, Dr. Pfisterer has been in practice for 6 years and is excited to be a 100 % in-network provider under Redefine Healthcare.

Additionally, Redefine Healthcare’s West Caldwell office is offering sports medicine and interventional pain management treatments under the care of our existing providers. Located at 185 Fairfield Ave #2A, the West Caldwell office opened up under Redefine Healthcare on November 1^st, 2019.

As always, our new locations in Teaneck and West Caldwell will continue Redefine Healthcare’s mission of redefining care one patient at a time. If you or someone you know suffers from a pain condition, call (732) 479-8530 to schedule an appointment.

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Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that typically occurs just before puberty during a growth spurt. The cause of scoliosis is usually unknown. While most cases are mild, scoliosis can be disabling in some people. June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, a great time for education about early detection of this prevalent disease through a campaign that unites patients, families, doctors, and institutions affected by scoliosis.

At Redefine Healthcare, we’d like to highlight some of the services that we provide to help people with scoliosis. Here are four pain management treatments that improve comfort and quality of life for those afflicted with scoliosis.

Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are medications injected onto or near nerves; these medications may be steroids, local anesthetics, or narcotics. There are many different types of nerve blocks including facet joint blocks, medial blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, selective nerve root blocks, sympathetic nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and radiofrequency nerve ablation. Ablation is similar to a nerve block or joint injection, except that in ablation, your care provider will use two needles–one in each nerve of the facet joint. We can help you determine which type of nerve block may work best for your condition and tailor a treatment plan just for you.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

A newer treatment is available for people dealing with pain from damaged spinal nerves. Spinal cord stimulation involves placing electrical wires along the back of the spinal cord. These wires are connected to a small stimulator box, which is placed under the skin and controlled via a handheld remote control. When activated, the stimulator delivers mild electrical impulses near the spine. Similar to a pacemaker, this device works by interrupting pain signals traveling between the spinal cord and the brain.

Medications

There are many different medications to help relieve the pain stemming from scoliosis. A wide variety of drugs on the market right now can significantly reduce pain, from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) to opioids (such as oxycodone and morphine) and nerve pain agents (such as gabapentin and pregabalin).

When they are prescribed by a doctor and used only as directed, medications can go a long way toward relieving a patient’s pain short term. However, that doesn’t mean that controlling pain with medication is a simple matter: many of these drugs can be addictive and may become less effective at fighting pain over time.

Surgery

When less-invasive methods of pain relief have been ineffective, surgery may be an option. Surgery is usually recommended when pain is severe and cannot be managed with other treatments or when the spinal cord or nerve roots have become irritated and surgery is essential to prevent the loss of bodily functions. Your doctor can recommend procedures such as decompression surgery or decompression with fusion to help relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.

If you have scoliosis and want to explore your pain relief options, don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.

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