After a car accident, you learned you suffered a serious back injury. You live in constant pain and want relief. How do you treat your injury without going under the knife?
Johns Hopkins explores non-surgical treatments for persistent back pain. Build your legal case and take care of yourself at the same time with these facts.
Meditation and mindfulness
Being in constant pain may wear away your mental health. Mindfulness and meditation can help address depression, irritability and frustration. Your doctor could refer you to a rehabilitation psychologist, who could suggest tai chi, yoga or relaxation techniques.
Physical therapy
Your spine physical therapist and doctor can work together to create a physical therapy treatment plan for back pain. This plan should address your specific physical condition and injury symptoms. Physical therapy exercises include core strengthening, posture retraining, aerobic exercises and flexibility training.
Diet
Your diet could cause swelling that worsens your back pain. Working with your physician to reduce your processed food, sugar and trans fat intake may reduce inflammation.
Injection treatment
Medical professionals use nerve ablations, nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections to treat persistent back pain. Injection-based treatments help address known sources of pain, but they do not serve as long-term solutions.
Lifestyle changes
Catastrophic injuries reset your physical limitations. While you may still engage in activities you enjoyed before your accident, you must listen to your body. For instance, standing for long periods or carrying substantial weight may activate your chronic pan. Pay close attention to what hurts you and what soothes you.
You may not need to schedule surgery for your back injury. Understanding your treatment options helps you build your personal injury case.