Back pain can come and go--temporary relief followed by frustration. Pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer, and is often age-related.  But it can also be the result of a prior injury. Have you been told that surgery is your only option to relieve your chronic back pain?

Low back pain can improve with time (it may take months or years) as the natural aging process as the disc space has less motion. With continued degeneration, bony growth around the disc will try to capture the excess motion. Because degenerative disc disease is, for the most part, a non-crippling, non-progressive type of back condition, continuing non-surgical treatments to manage the painful symptoms is always an option.

Only the patient can decide if the pain and inability to perform normal daily activities is bad enough to warrant spinal fusion (or any other) type of surgery. And the best way for a patient to make an informed decision is to fully understand the trade-offs between spinal fusion and other non-surgical and surgical treatment options. Don’t make rushed decisions for extensive medical procedures until the origin of the pain is found. Not only may they not help; they could make the pain worse.

What are some Back Surgery Alternatives?

1. Physical Therapy – Retrains your posture, pain tolerance, teaches exercise and core strengthening.
2. Mindfulness and Meditation – Cognitive and relaxation strategies help manage the frustration, irritability, depression and other psychological aspects of dealing with chronic pain.
3. Diet – Some diets are highly inflammatory, especially those high in trans fats, refined sugars, and processed foods. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help.
4. Lifestyle Modifications – Accept your limitations and adapt. Avoid the activities that worsen your pain. 
5. Injection-based Treatments – Injections are used when the source of the pain is known. They may stop or lessen the pain for a certain period of time but are not intended as long-term solutions.
6. Medication – Medications used to control pain come with unwanted side effects and are not intended for prolonged use. They can be addictive and don’t address the underlying cause of your pain. 
7. Alternative Treatments – Spinal manipulation, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation are other options that could benefit you.

If you’re looking for a back surgery alternative to control back pain, consider spinal decompression therapy.  It is a noninvasive form of therapy. This decompression therapy works by alternately stretching and relaxing the lower spine, thereby relieving pressure on structures in the back (the "cushion" disks and vertebral bones) that cause low back pain.

At McKim Chiropractic, hundreds of patients suffering from chronic and severe back pain and neck pain have been treated successfully with the DRS Protocol™, an innovative back surgery alternative. Call McKim Chiropractic today to schedule an exam and consultation. Our licensed and certified staff is happy to help the residents of Nampa, ID find relief from pain.