At Performance Spine and Sports Medicine, a non-surgical orthopedic institute in Lawrenceville, NJ, the specialists use a team-oriented, interdisciplinary approach to treating back pain. For moderate to severe back pain, the doctor offers an epidural injection, which is the standard non-surgical procedure for back pain/a pinched nerve.
Epidurals can be summed up using the “burning house” analogy:
Back pain is like a burning water house and an epidural injection is like a hose that puts out the flames. But it is far from a cure. After the fire is put out, you still have a burnt house that needs rebuilding and protection from getting burned again. That is the role of the chiropractor and physical therapists. Manual therapies and exercises not only help rebuild the body, but are still the best way to help prevent future back pain.
The key to treating moderate to severe back pain is combining a high-level medical procedure like an epidural with a specific chiropractic and physical therapy program. The longer you wait to get an epidural injection, the more difficult it is to treat the back pain. It is like a “burning house” with flames that continue to grow and spread out of control because your body produces inflammatory chemicals that come from the “bulging disc” and irritate the nerve, making the pain worse. Because of this, epidural injections are important in treating severe back pain because they put anti-inflammatory medication right where it needs to be (next to the pinched nerve!) in order to put the “fire” out.
The injection puts cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, next to the pinched, inflamed nerve. The main goal of the injection is to shrink the swelling in the bulging or herniated discs and to decrease any inflammation that surrounds the disc and may be pressing on a spinal nerve. The epidural must be done using an X-ray fluoroscopic machine to guide the needle. The doctor offers a nutritional supplement program to help fight inflammation and keep it off with high-dose fish oil and vitamin D. In fact, high-dose fish oil has been shown to help treat pain.
All patient cases are discussed among a coordinated team of specialists: an MD (medical doctor), who leads the team; chiropractors; and physical therapists. The team works together to solve each case and arrive at a customized solution. That is what has made our practice successful. Every patient is treated with this interdisciplinary approach under one roof. This is the ultimate secret to managing back pain.
For more, see this video from the Performance Spine and Medicine Institute.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
