How to Get Rid of Severe Back Pain without Surgery

Living with severe back pain can make you desperate for long-term solutions that can ease your discomfort. While you may feel that you've tried everything and surgery is your last resort, this may not be the case. 

Surgery for back pain is a delicate and invasive procedure. Before opting for this treatment approach, you should have tried and tested more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy. 

When you consult with a pain management specialist at SEPA Pain & Spine, you can rest assured that before we recommend surgery, we've ensured that you've received the best conservative treatment approaches for severe back pain.

In this post, we explore six effective nonsurgical treatment options for severe back pain that you should consider before surgery.

Nonsurgical treatment options for severe back pain

If you're struggling with severe back pain, many nonsurgical options are available that can significantly relieve your discomfort. 

At SEPA Pain & Spine, we’ve been in practice for over 30 years, and our providers are fellowship-trained and board-certified in pain medicine. We specialize in advanced noninvasive treatments that have shown remarkable success in managing back pain. Here are some of them.

Spinal injections

Spinal injections are an effective method for relieving back pain. They include epidural steroid injections, which deliver steroids directly into the epidural space in the spinal region to reduce inflammation and pain, and facet joint injections, which target specific joints in the spine to ease discomfort.

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are designed to reduce pain by interrupting the pain signals sent to your brain. We administer a local anesthetic directly to a specific nerve or group of nerves in your back. These blocks provide immediate relief and give us more information about the source of your pain.

Trigger point injections

For muscle-induced back pain, trigger point injections can be a lifesaver. These injections target specific knots or trigger points in the muscles causing pain. They contain a mix of anesthetic and corticosteroids, which we then inject into the trigger points, helping to ease the muscle tension and discomfort.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat generated by radio waves to target specific nerves in your back and disrupt pain signals. This treatment is beneficial for chronic back pain that hasn't responded to more conservative measures and can provide lasting relief for many patients.

Spinal cord stimulation

During spinal cord stimulation, we use a device that sends electrical signals to the spinal cord to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. We typically consider this method when other treatments have failed. It can be particularly effective for chronic and severe back pain.

Intrathecal pump therapy

With intrathecal pump therapy, we deliver medication directly into the space around the spinal cord through a surgically implanted pump. We use lower doses of medication, as the drug is delivered directly to the spinal cord's pain receptors. The result is significant pain relief and reduced side effects.

The best choice of any of these options depends on your specific condition and the underlying cause of your pain. We work with you to determine the most effective approach for you.

When you need surgery

While we prioritize nonsurgical treatments for severe back pain, we also recognize situations when surgery might be the best course of action. 

If your symptoms persist despite exhaustive nonsurgical approaches, we consider minimally invasive spine surgery options, such as spinal fusion, the Superion® procedure by Vertiflex®, or the MILD® procedure. 

These techniques are less disruptive than traditional surgery. We focus on reducing your recovery time and minimizing risks while effectively addressing the underlying cause of your back pain.

At SEPA Pain & Spine, we understand that severe back pain can significantly reduce your quality of life. That's why our team is committed to providing you with nonsurgical treatments that relieve your pain without immediately resorting to surgery. 

Call us at 855-235-7246 to book a consultation at any of our offices in Horsham, Langhorne, Meadowbrook, Chalfont, East Norriton, or Limerick, in southeastern Pennsylvania. You can also request one online here.