BRACES AND ORTHOTICS
Your doctor may prescribe a neck or back brace for you to wear after a spinal injury or surgery. A brace does three things: immobilizes your spine during healing; stabilizes injured areas; controls pain by restricting movement.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Chiropractic medicine aims to improve health by restoring structure and function to the spine and other joints. Stress, accidents, overexertion, or other injuries may cause minor displacement (subluxation) of the spinal vertebra. When a vertebra is displaced or an extremity is affected, muscle tension or irritation to the spinal nerves can result, causing pain (e.g., neck, back, headache, whiplash) and impairing overall health.
EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTION
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive procedure that can help relieve neck, arm, back, and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. ESI may be performed to relieve pain caused by spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, or disc herniation. Medicines are delivered to the spinal nerve through the epidural space, the area between the protective covering of the spinal cord and vertebrae. The effects of ESI tend to be temporary. Pain relief may last for several days or even years.
FACET JOINT INJECTIONS
NERVE BLOCK INJECTION TEST
A nerve block injection, also called a pain receptor block injection, is a minimally invasive procedure that can temporarily relieve joint or nerve pain. The procedure is used as a diagnostic test to determine if the pain is actually coming from the nerve or joint. The effects of a nerve/pain receptor block tend to be temporary and are rarely long term. If the block is successful, then a radiofrequency ablation may be recommended.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy is an important part of a nonsurgical approach to maintain, restore, and improve overall physical health. Pain-free mobility is crucial for physical independence, earning a living, quality of life and well being. Working with a doctor, a physical therapist (PT) can help patients who have suffered an injury, disease, or those recovering from surgery.
SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCK
A lumbar sympathetic block is an injection of a local anesthetic that can help relieve chronic leg and foot pain caused by conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, vascular insufficiency, and shingles. Medications are delivered to the sympathetic nerves – a cluster of nerve cell bodies – along the front side of the spine. The goal is to reduce pain so that you can resume normal activities and physical therapy.
TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS)
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive device placed on the skin that can help control pain. Use of this small, battery-operated device can block pain signals from reaching the brain and potentially reduce pain medication. It is important to remember that TENS does not cure or eliminate the cause of pain and is not effective for every patient.