What would you say is the second leading cause of doctor visits in this country? Some might guess heartburn; others might say a nagging cough. The answer, however, is lower back pain. The problem among adults 45 to 65 years of age is so pervasive that over 75% can expect to be affected by it. If you are one of the 65 million patients in the United States who suffers from back pain, it is a relief to realize that only about one in ten patients actually require surgical intervention.
Lower back pain manifests itself in many different ways. Some patients have slight or severe aching in their backs, others feel crippling pain shooting down their legs, still others become so stiff they can hardly straighten up. Weakness and numbness in certain regions can also be experienced. Part of the reason there are so many different sorts of pain is that there are over fifty different nerves that can be affected.
In 90% of the cases, the source of back pain is the motor and sensory nerves that stretch through the spinal cord. These vital nerves are encircled by the bones of the spine and leave the spinal cord through holes to other places in the body. When these nerves are depressed for any reason, pain follows. The back muscles seize in response to the nerve irritation, and pain and stiffness occur. Sometimes a bulging disc is the culprit. Other times, the cause of the problem is a herniated or ruptured disc. Whatever the source, back pain can be incapacitating.
You can effectively try to treat back pain on your own at home. Take an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, to relieve swelling. Taking it easy for two or three days is recommended. Find a position that does not cause pain and rest. The idea is to halt the pinching of that nerve. If symptoms do not subside or if they worsen, seeing a doctor is advised. Tests can determine the source of the pain and rule out more dangerous issues. Physical therapy may be advised. Fortunately, in most cases, the pain can be stopped without surgery.
When chronic lower back pain occurs, it's often after a spinal injury such as a strained muscle, sprained ligament or herniated disc. Even after the initial injury has been cured or repaired, the pain still lingers on. Health experts have found that such injuries can sometimes trigger alterations in the nerve cells that transmit signals. The resulting pain, called hypersensitivity, persists long after the initial trauma has been healed.
When this occurs, the chronic lower back pain transforms into a disease that is much more than a symptom of underlying spinal damage. Hypersensitivity can continue to create bouts of pain, even when there is no havoc that factored the twinge. For this reason, it's important for people who have suffered lower back trauma to maintain an ongoing rehabilitation program, to avoid any future painful episodes.
There is an effective, non-surgical treatment method that may offer relief for those suffering with lower back pain. Percutaneous neuromodulation therapy (PNT) brings relief by applying electrical stimulation to the deep tissues in the posterior portion of the body.
This new procedure for relieving chronic lower back pain has recently received clearance by the FDA. PNT is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in a regular medical clinic.
If you're interested in percutaneous nueromodulation therapy, you must meet a certain set of criteria:
* Be at risk of developing long-term, intractable pain.
* Existing pain should radiate from the lower back into your buttocks, legs and feet.
* Have not received ample pain-relieving medications (including physical therapy or chiropractic manipulation).
* Would you like a less insidious approach before resorting into a surgical operation?
A doctor performing PNT will utilize several needle electrodes. These electrodes are designed to reach nerve pathways that may be impacting the pain. Specialists believe that this kind of charged stimulation can help to restrain the central nervous system that is relentlessly ushering in the pain.
A typical PNT session lasts for about thirty minutes. Once the patient has become comfortable in a face down position on the examination table, up to ten PNT electrodes are applied to the lower buttock area at specified locations. Each is deployed with a fine-gauge filament electrode to a depth of three centimeters. With the electrodes in place, the doctor is able to adjust the stimulation to a stage that will distribute the most therapeutic benefits to the patient.
Patients who undergo PNT treatment for lower back pain must complete three or four sessions before evaluating the effectiveness of the procedure. Some patients report experiencing a certain level of relief after a single PNT session, while others require subsequent sessions. The most suitable frequency of PNT treatment for lower back pain will vary with each individual.
Following the application PNT treatment, some patients report overall feeling of wellness, including increased physical activity, a better quality of sleep, improved pain control, reduced levels of disability and a lessened need for pain medications.
If you suffer with lower back pain, you don't have to be a slave to the condition. Effective treatment options are available, including PNT sessions, which can provide the relief you need to get back on your feet.
Both Fabian Toulouse & Ambrose Hutson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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