Have Back Pain but Not Sure About Surgery? This May Be the Answer.
Posted on March 2, 2021
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a pain management expert. Pain management physicians are specially trained to diagnose and treat the symptoms of various pain conditions such as Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Osteoarthritis and damaged spinal discs, among others.
Among the reasons pain doctors have the ability to provide relief for back pain patients when other physicians have failed is the state-of-the-art technology they employ to pinpoint the source of pain with greater accuracy than ever before. By locating the exact origin of discomfort, pain specialists are better equipped to provide the most effective treatments.
One of the comprehensive methods pain doctors use for diagnosing the source of pain is known as Discography. This advanced diagnostic tool is frequently used for people who have issues with spinal discs, such as:
- Extruded Disc: This condition occurs when the spine has degenerated and the fluid inside leaks into the spinal column.
- Disc Nerve Condition: This is caused when the nerves within the disc become damaged or put under pressure due to disc degeneration or traumatic injury.
- Fissured Disc, (aka herniated disc): This is the result of damage that occurs due to a tear or crack in the disc.
Discography is recommended for certain patients who experience back pain but may not want to have surgery if they can’t be certain it will be effective.
With the use of Discography, the need for unnecessary back surgery is greatly reduced. And if surgery is indicated, this diagnostic tool will target the exact location of injury or degeneration, so that the success rate of subsequent back surgery is between 75% and 99%. Compared to a typical range of only 30% – 35% success rate, this presents a significant increase in the likelihood of surgical success.
This advanced technology has brought new hope for patients who previously had no other choice but to ‘take a chance’ on back surgery and see if it helps relieve their pain. Not only will Discography determine the cause of back pain, it will also ensure that any surgical procedures performed will be absolutely necessary, and will target the patient’s pain source with utmost precision.
If the discography procedure determines that spinal discs are not the cause of a patient’s suffering, additional testing and alternative treatment options may be explored.
Discography is minimally invasive and performed on an outpatient basis, usually in under an hour. By performing this procedure, pain physicians spare many patients from having to endure intensive, debilitating back surgeries with little or no improvement in their pain condition.
Do you suffer from back pain?
At Riverside Pain Physicians, our expert pain management specialists are dedicated to providing minimally invasive, proven procedures and treatments based in the individual needs of each patient.
Our specialists are highly skilled and ready to consult with you to find a customized solution based on your situation and the nature of your pain. We’ll work together with you to find the most effective treatment to minimize your suffering and restore your quality of life.
If you’re tired of living with back pain and want to learn about the options available for relief, call Riverside Pain Physicians today at 904.389.1010 to schedule an appointment, or set up a consultation online at one of our clinics so we can discuss options for minimizing or eliminating your pain.
Tags: back-pain, back-pain-jacksonville, back-pain-treatment, chronic back pain treatment