Put Back Pain to Rest

Dr. Paul Holman
Methodist
Neurological Institute

What do Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Lewis, Bo Derek and Tobey Maguire have in common? They all suffer from back pain. And they're not alone. Most Americans will experience some form of back pain during their lifetimes. Whether caused by an injury or the natural aging process, back pain can disrupt your normal routine and even your sleep. Back pain sufferers often have many questions, such as: "Will the pain go away on its own?" "How should I treat my aching back?" and "Is surgery an option for me?" Before your physician suggests a plan-of-action, he or she will assess the type of pain you're experiencing and what treatment will best target the pain.

Types of Back Pain
Back pain can affect all ages and range in intensity from a barely-there throbbing to severe, disabling pain. Although each back pain sufferer's situation is unique, common causes of back discomfort include poor posture, heavy lifting, improper sports or exercise techniques, being overweight, and having certain conditions such as a herniated disc, muscle spasms, arthritis and scoliosis. Depending on the cause behind the pain, your back irritation may be considered acute (lasting up to three weeks) or chronic (lasting for months or years).

"There are well-known causes of acute back pain, which we can pinpoint, but it can be more difficult to assess the cause of chronic back pain because it often doesn't stem from one specific source," says Paul Holman, M.D., neurosurgeon for the Neurological Institute at The Methodist Hospital. "Seventy percent of patients who seek treatment for chronic back pain can't be helped with surgery because there's not one area of the spine that shows where the pain is coming from," he adds.

Methodist Offers Treatment Options
Minor back ailments (primarily those associated with strains and/or spasms) can be treated at home with a combination of hot and cold compresses, rest and anti-inflammatory medications. "Physical therapy can also be of help," Dr. Holman says, "because the patient can perform exercises that stretch the muscles in the back and strengthen the abdominal muscles (your core), which is important in helping to reduce pain."

For some patients, surgery may be an option based on the recommendation of their physician. The Methodist Neurological Institute offers minimally invasive spine surgery — a technique that significantly cuts down on the blood loss, pain medication requirements and recovery period associated with traditional spine surgery. "We have high-tech imaging systems in place that allow our surgeons to view the patient's spine in three dimensions (3-D)," Dr. Holman says. "This allows us to see the complexities of the spine in greater detail, resulting in smaller incisions." Dedicated to innovation in health care, the Methodist Neurological Institute explores both conservative and surgical treatment options for back pain to help patients find relief and get back to their daily activities.

Don't let an aching back get the better of you. Schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss treatment options by calling 866-890-0449 or visiting www.methodisthealth.com.