One of the most frustrating medical conditions that the average person has to deal with is spinal pain. This common health issue, which typically manifests as pain or discomfort in the lower back, is not always easy to treat. Treatments that work for one patient may not be effective for another, and vice-versa. This article examines several treatments that spinal pain sufferers can use to try and get relief.

Non-Invasive

Many victims of spinal pain prefer to start their pain management programs with non-invasive treatments and only move on to more invasive methods if the non-invasive remedies do not provide sufficient relief. One of the most common spinal pain treatments in this category is exercise. Your doctor may suggest that you perform exercises that are specifically designed to increase the strength of your spine and reduce any pain due to spinal weakness.

Manual manipulation of the spine, such as chiropractic treatments, provide pain reduction for some patients. You may also get relief by applying hot and cold compresses to your back. Relaxation techniques, such as biofeedback, can also be useful in some cases.

Other non-invasive methods focus on oral medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. If you take these for any extended period for back pain, make sure that it's with your doctor's approval, as there are side effects associated with the long-term use of over-the-counter pain medications.

If over-the-counter medications are not helpful, your health care provider may recommend prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and other powerful narcotics. These drugs should never be used unless prescribed by a physician and taken only as directed by the doctor.

Invasive

If none of the methods listed above gives you significant relief from your spinal pain, then the next step will be to try more invasive treatments. A treatment that has proven effective for many patients is the injection of steroidal drugs directly into the body. Another option in this category is spinal cord stimulation. In this treatment, a device that prevents pain signals from reaching your brain is surgically implanted inside your body. Once the device is implanted, you can control the level of the electrical impulses that the device delivers, depending on your discomfort at any given moment.

Spinal pain is not something that anyone should simply accept as part of life or getting older. You have many good pain management treatments at your disposal. To learn more, contact a health facility that specializes in spinal pain treatments.