Back pain is a complex problem, so it should come as no surprise that there are a number of different types of treatment. The type of treatment you receive is dependent on your injury, but today we wanted to run through seven common treatment techniques so you can get a better understanding of what your rehab schedule may look like after a spine injury. Here are seven of the most common ways spine specialists treat your ailing back.

Rest

Rest is probably the most common piece of advice for minor back injuries like pulled muscles or just general soreness. Take it easy for a few days, and odds are you’ll notice that pain starts to subside.

Exercise

On the flip side, exercise can also be good for some back injuries. Exercise gets healthy, oxygenated blood flowing to the structures in the spine, and it can help you build strength in areas of your back. If it’s safe to exercise, try some light to moderate intensity workouts to strengthen your spine.

Stretching

Stretching is great for problems like a pinched nerve, which can sometimes be relieved with deep, slow stretching maneuvers. For example stretching also helps get healthy blood to areas in your spine. It can also help improve your spine’s range of motion and functional ability.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is often a combination of exercise and stretching, but this type of therapy targets the specific areas of your back that need it most. Physical therapy is usually used after a surgery operation to get your spine back to full strength, but it can also help stave off problems like disc degeneration.

Chiropractic Care

A licensed chiropractor can help alleviate some spine conditions by manipulating areas of your back. This type of treatment is great for pinched nerves or to decompress areas of excess pressure in your spine.

Injections

Corticosteroid injections help quell painful inflammation in your spine, which can develop for a number of reasons. Spinal bone spurs are a common culprit of spinal inflammation and an injection can help provide temporary relief. Usually, this needs to be used in combination with at least one other treatment technique to fully relieve pain.

Surgery

Surgery is usually only sought if conservative treatment has failed. Surgery is used to address problems like spinal fractures, herniated discs and spinal tumors. The goal of surgery is twofold;
to address the problem and ensure the stability of the spine. After surgery, you’ll likely need to try a few of the conservative treatment options listed above to get back to your baseline.

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