Back pain is a frequent and sometimes stubborn condition that plagues millions of American adults. You need relief, whether you’ve been injured, have pulled muscles from heavy lifting or have a degenerative condition, such as arthritis.
Let’s talk about what you should do to get relief from back pain and where you can go in Melbourne, FL, for outstanding pain management care.
#1 Talk to Your Primary Care Physician
Back pain is not normal, and it can severely impact your quality of life. So, see your PCP about your symptoms. If the interventions he or she recommends are ineffective and pain continues for weeks to months, it’s time for a referral to a pain management clinic, such as Central Florida Back & Spine.
#2 Tell the Back Doctor in Melbourne, FL, About Your Symptoms
In fact, write them down, and detail their location, severity, what makes them flare up, their duration, and what may relieve them. Be specific about remedies you have tried. Your interventional pain specialist will examine your back, review your medical, surgical, and medication history, and perform tests as needed.
#3 Get with the Back Pain Relief Plan
No two backs are the same, especially when they hurt. So, your treatment plan will be specific to your symptoms, activity level, physical condition, etc. Tell your back doctor what pain-relieving strategies are working and which ones do not. He will adjust your treatments to maximize pain relief, freedom of movement, and your ability to walk, work and do the household and work-related tasks you wish to do.
Pain relievers may be a part of your care plan. However, they are no longer the mainstay of back pain treatment. In fact, our interventional pain management specialist in Melbourne tries to limit medication and surgery as much as possible. Instead, he advises innovative pain management techniques and minimally-invasive procedures as your diagnosis, and health-related goals warrant.
Some examples of Dr. Giordano’s treatments include:
- Ultrasound-guided injection therapy (nerve blocks, facet joint injections, corticosteroid injections, etc.)
- Plasma-rich therapy, injections composed of growth factor-rich platelets derived from the patient’s own blood
- Physical therapy (stretching and strengthening exercises, electrical nerve stimulation, hot and cold therapy, massage, etc.)
- Amazing kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, minimally-invasive procedures which install spacers in fractured and degraded spinal vertebrae
#4 Make Adjustments to Your Lifestyle
Back pain and its underlying causes worsen with certain life habits. For instance, smokers experience increased back and joint pain and slower wound healing due to the inflammatory properties of the nicotine in cigarettes. So, smoking cessation is key to back pain relief, healing, and optimization of function and structural health.
Additionally, good posture–whether sitting or standing–is important. So do regular, light aerobic exercise to stay in good condition, increase circulation, improve range of motion, and reduce pain and stiffness.
At work, be sure to lift using proper body mechanics. Get help for loads that are too heavy for you.
Finally, maintaining proper body weight and eating healthfully reduces strain on back muscles and spine. Sugar, fat, and processed foods increase inflammation and set the stage for reduced function and back pain, so be sure to avoid these menu choices.
#5 Stay Positive
A good mental attitude actually improves back pain results. So, use relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, and prayer to stay positive while following your treatment plan.
Exceptional Pain Relief from Your Back Doctor in Melbourne, FL
The Central Florida Spine & Pain is a warm, welcoming place for interventional pain management, with experts on staff to tailor strategies to your specific diagnosis and desired outcomes.
In general, our pain management care plans really help people cope with chronic pain, improve mobility and independence, and enjoy their lives again.
To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Nicholas Giordano, call us today at (321) 802-5021, or fill out the appointment request form on our website.
