4 Nonsurgical Treatments to Manage Your Pain

Over 20% of all American adults struggle with chronic pain, and out of those individuals, 7.4% of individuals are severely debilitated because of their pain. Our team here at Preva Surgicare - Surgery Center Of The Woodlands knows firsthand how chronic pain can affect all facets of your life. That’s why we offer pain management services, including personalized treatment plans utilizing cutting-edge therapies to help you achieve long-lasting pain relief.

Below, we explore four nonsurgical treatments to manage your pain.

1. Neurostimulation

Neurostimulation, sometimes called neuromodulation, is a type of pain management that modulates (modulate means “controls” or “regulates”) your nerves. The premise behind neuromodulation is that mild electrical impulses block your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. Because your brain doesn’t receive those pain messages, you won’t feel the full amount of pain. 

There are many types of neurostimulation including spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, peripheral nerve field stimulation, and supraorbital transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Studies show that neurostimulation is an effective method for reducing pain, including back, leg, and arm pain. 

2. Joint injections

Joint pain causes discomfort, but it also limits your mobility. Joint injections are a nonsurgical option for managing joint pain, including pain caused by osteoarthritis. Steroid injection contains a steroid, and sometimes, they also contain local anesthetics. The injection is administered directly into your joint where the steroid reduces inflammation and the aesthetic provides pain relief. 

In addition to steroid injections, we also offer hyaluronic acid injections. These injections lubricate your joints and relieve pain.

3. Medication

There are many different types of medication that can be used to manage pain. A few examples include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are often used for mild to moderate pain that's accompanied by swelling and inflammation
• Acetaminophen, which is often used for mild to moderate pain, including headaches and musculoskeletal pain
• COX-2 inhibitors, which are often used for arthritis pain
• Antidepressants, which are occasionally prescribed for chronic neuropathic pain 
• Opioids, which are often used for acute pain (such as after surgery) because these drugs are highly addictive  

You may find that other nonsurgical treatments help to reduce your dependence on medication. 

4. Chiropractic care and physical therapy

Physical therapy is often included in treatment plans if you have chronic pain. Physical therapy helps to improve your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and help you feel better. Chiropractic care, which includes manual therapy and spinal manipulation, can also help you find relief, especially for low back pain.

What if nonsurgical treatments aren’t enough?

Back pain is the number one cause of missed workdays and the leading cause of disability.  Neurospine care is available here at Preva Surgicare - Surgery Center Of The Woodlands. Neurospine care includes nonsurgical (and surgical if needed) treatments for back pain caused by compressed nerves, herniated discs, or degenerative disc disease. Nonsurgical treatments for back pain include lifestyle changes, activity modification, joint injections, medication, and physical therapy.

That being said, sometimes nonsurgical treatments just aren’t enough to provide adequate pain relief. Our team of highly specialized surgeons, including neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, may recommend surgical interventions to reduce your pain and increase your quality of life.

Don’t let chronic pain control you any longer. To learn more about our nonsurgical pain management options (or our surgical options), schedule your appointment by calling our The Woodlands, Texas office at 281-377-3706. Or, simply request an appointment via our online scheduling tool.