Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Some medical treatments are better and more effective than others, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to back pain. And while there is no one-size-fits-all treatment that will always take care of your back issues, there are some treatments that you’ll want to avoid pursuing as a standalone option.

Now that’s not to say that the treatments on this list are completely ineffective and useless, because oftentimes they can be a great addition to a comprehensive treatment plan. Problems can develop if any of these options are your only form of treatment, because many of these methods aren’t designed to treat the root cause of your discomfort. Below, we take a closer look at five treatment techniques you should avoid if you are suffering from a spinal condition.

Passive Spinal Pain Treatments To Avoid

Again, your spine surgeon may have you pursue some of the techniques on this list, but it’s incredibly unlikely that they’ll say that you should only pursue this one type of treatment, because it’s unlikely to address the totality of your problem. These techniques can be a great compliment to your total treatment plan, but be wary of only pursuing one of the following techniques as a stand alone treatment option.

1. Rest – Rest can help to protect the spine from additional injury, and while the old adage suggests that time can heal all wounds, rest won’t get your spine back to a pre-injury level of fitness. You’re going to need to strengthen your spine with active techniques after an injury, otherwise you will be at an increased risk for another back injury down the road. Don’t just sit on the couch, waiting for your body to heal itself.
2. Massage Therapy – Wouldn’t it be great if your insurance would pay for a series of massages that fully healed your back injury? Unfortunately, massage therapy by itself isn’t a great technique for addressing the underlying issue. Massage can help to release stress that has been building up in soft tissues, but again, strengthening these areas with active techniques will do the most good. Pair a massage with active techniques for the greatest benefit.
3. Pain Medications – Pain medications can help to drown out nerve sensations and decrease problematic inflammation, but they won’t target the root cause of your pain. These medications can absolutely make it easier to pursue techniques like exercise or physical therapy, but there’s no magic pill that will completely resolve your back pain by itself, so don’t go looking for the perfect pain pill.
4. Injections – Injections are a lot like prescription medications, except that your spine specialist can release the medicine in a specific spot for best results. However, as is the tune with this blog, an injection won’t rectify the root cause of your discomfort, it will only target the symptoms. Again, an injection can make it much easier to pursue active techniques that work to solve the problem at its core, so injections can be a great option, just not one that you should pursue as a stand alone cure.
5. Surgery – We’re finding different ways to say the same thing here, but surgery is not something that you should pursue as a stand alone option. Surgery can help to target the root issue, but you need to put in the work during your recovery period if you want to experience the best results. This oftentimes means physical therapy, controlled exercise, weight loss or stretching techniques to strengthen the area and expand your comfortable range of motion. Surgery can provide you with the relief you seek, but to ensure your spine is as strong and functional as possible after the operation, you need to pair it with other treatments.

For more information about what you should do to treat your back pain issue, or to talk to a spine specialist about setting up an appointment, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.

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