Have you been told that surgery is your only option to relieve your chronic back pain? Depending on the severity of the condition, a combination of non-surgical treatment options may be the best solution for treating your pain.

Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. The pain can come and go, temporary relief followed by frustration. Chronic back pain is usually age-related, but can also result from a prior injury. The most common causes include:

• Arthritis of the spine—the gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the spine
• Spinal stenosis—narrowing of the spinal canal that may lead to nerve pain
• Disc problems, such as a herniated or bulging disc
• Myofascial pain syndrome—unexplained muscle pain and tenderness

Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause. In some cases, it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause. Don’t make rushed decisions or undergo 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 – This may include:
   • Retraining your posture
   • Testing the limits of pain tolerance
   • Stretching and flexibility exercises
   • Aerobic exercises
   • Core strengthening
2. Mindfulness and Meditation – Cognitive and relaxation strategies may be prescribed to 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 could also help by reducing the pressure on your spine.
4. Lifestyle Modifications -- Accept your limitations and adapt. Take note of the activities that worsen your pain and avoid them if possible to prevent the underlying condition from advancing.
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 and shouldn’t be used in isolation.
6. Alternative Treatments – Spinal manipulation, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation are other options that could benefit you.
7. Medication – Medications that are used to control pain come with unwanted side effects and are not intended for prolonged use, as many of them are addictive and don’t address the underlying cause of your pain.

If you’re looking for a back surgery alternative to control your back pain, consider vertebral axial decompression therapy, a noninvasive form of therapy for low back pain. 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. Each potential patient is given a thorough examination to determine whether they are a candidate for the DRS Protocol™. Call McKim Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation. Our licensed and certified staff is happy to help the residents of Nampa, ID find relief from pain.