Discography, also referred to as a discogram, is a procedure used by medical professionals in order to help diagnose back issues. In a typical case, a surgeon will recommend using discography for treating back pain in order to identify a particular disc that is creating pain and what subsequent treatment steps should be undergone.

Who Benefits From It?

Due to the fact that the procedure is considered invasive (it involves a medical professional inserting needles into a disc), it is generally done after other back pain treatments – physical therapy, medication, injection therapy, and more – have failed to alleviate the condition. Patients have typically been experiencing back pain for at least four to six months.

How Does It Work?

When using discography for treating back pain, an x-ray dye is injected into spinal discs and the patient is asked whether pain is occurring. An x-ray image is created that may show the presence of tears or fissures in the disc lining. It is important to note that this measure is less concerned with the disc’s anatomy and more interested in its physiology, or whether it is painful. This is because sometimes abnormalities in discs do not lead to pain, therefore simply the presence of a deviation is not on the face of it something to be concerned about.

What Will Be the Outcome?

A doctor will take the results of your discography and combine the information generated with the returns of other assessments and physical examinations in order to make a determination about whether the disc is the root of your symptoms. Data may be taken as a deciding factor in whether or not surgery will be a good option moving forward and if so, what kind of surgery and which discs. A potential operation undergone after this type of test is a spinal fusion, where the disc levels are joined together to get rid of an internally disrupted, pain-inducing disc.

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Back pain can be crippling. It can cause you to stop doing what you love. It can even make you feel like you are not yourself. Finding ways to relieve your back pain can be difficult. What works for one person might not work for another. In order to find the pain relief procedure that works for you, you have to go in and talk to a pain management specialist. There are a few ways that your back pain might get stabilized and minimized:

1.       Exercise: Exercise that aims to increase strength, flexibility and range of motion can help with back pain. Make sure to talk with a doctor before starting any exercise.
2.       Behavioral Modification: Sometimes relieving pain can be as simple as employing breathing or relaxing techniques, and avoiding activities that are extremely strenuous.
3.       Superficial Heating or Cooling: Oftentimes superficial heating and cooling is used with exercise to relieve back pain. This can be done with hot or cold packs, ultrasound or diathermy.
4.       Electrotherapy: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses low-voltage stimulation to reduce back pain. Again, make sure to consult a doctor before starting this treatment.
5.       Medications: There are pain medications such as analgesics, narcotics, neuromodulation or anti-inflammatories. Some people also saw positive results while using muscle relaxants, antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
6.       Injections: Injection procedures to relieve your back pain allow medications to be directly delivered to joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves.
7.       Surgically Implanted Electrotherapy Devices: Implantable spinal cord stimulators (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulators can help deliver electrotherapy right to the source.

Because there are so many different treatment options to relieve your back pain, you can feel confident that the doctors will be able to find a way to help decrease your pain. Many pain management clinics offer safe and caring service to help you increase your quality of life. Stop living in pain. Find the treatment that works for you.

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There are many dangers associated with fracturing your spine. For instance, you may have permanent nerve damage, or you may even become paralyzed. In order to avoid some of these problems and get your life back to normal, your doctor might recommend seeing a surgeon to perform a surgery. Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves the surgical filling of an injured or collapsed vertebra to restore your spine to its original shape. With spinal fractures, your spine may actually have become distorted, which may be causing other problems. Here are some of the important qualities to look for in a surgeon to perform your kyphoplasty.

Intelligent

You want to make sure that your surgeon is intelligent and projects confidence. When you are in a consultation with a surgeon who is constantly excusing him or herself to research or ask other professionals for answers, this is not going to make you feel confident in his or her ability to treat you.

Understanding and Compassionate

Although the surgeon you are working with has probably performed the surgery lots of times, you have no experience with it. Make sure the surgeon is qualified and experienced enough to understand your questions and relay the answers to you calmly and professionally.

Cool Under Pressure

Even when a surgery is going smoothly and just as it should, things can get tense in the operating room. Make sure that you can gauge your surgeon’s personality beforehand to ensure that the two of you are getting along and that the surgeon is someone you feel comfortable with who will not crack under pressure.

Kyphoplasty can be a scary procedure because it involves your spine, which can have serious repercussions if not performed carefully. If you need surgery on your spine, of course you are going to want to find the best surgeon. Do your research and know what qualities to look for in a physician before you go under the knife and you will be fine.

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If you suffer from chronic pain, you understand how even hope for the smallest relief is enough to get you out of bed in the morning. Fortunately, today’s medical field is full of innovative treatments for patients undergoing constant pain. Here are three incredible options for freeing your body of pain and debilitating conditions.

1. Nerve Injections

One of most common reasons for chronic pain is a disruption between the nerves and the spinal cord. Often times, a herniated disc causes searing pain to travel from the broken nerve site into the lower back or legs. A successful treatment for this pain is nerve injections consisting of a numbing agent and a steroid. This combination of drugs works to decrease swelling and inflammation at the site of the nerve damage. If you endure sharp pain originating from your spine, you may be a candidate to receive an epidural, a discography or a nerve block injection.

2. Complimentary Solutions

When alternative medical treatments are used alongside traditional procedures, they are called alternative solutions or alternative therapies. These can be of great help if you find not enough or no relief from conventional medicine such as steroids, pain pills and surgery. Common complimentary therapies include:

• Acupuncture-An ancient Chinese treatment utilizing disposable stainless steel needles to increase endorphins to the pain area and rebalance the body.

• Dietary changes-Many people find great relief from their pain by decreasing the amount of sugar, carbohydrates and fats they consume as these can cause inflammation of the joints.

• Chiropractic care- Chiropractic adjustments that realign the spine can decrease headaches, back pain, abdominal inflammation and even increase energy levels.

If you are interested in using complimentary treatments, make sure to talk to your doctor before starting them.

3. Patience and Positive Thinking

One final solution for chronic pain is your mental ability to change your outlook and mindset. If you wake up everyday believing you are going to be in terrible pain that stops you from enjoying life, chances are, that will be your outcome. Medical studies have show that staying positive, having patience and advocating for the best treatment for yourself greatly diminishes pain, inflammation and the onset of more illness.

If you are interested in trying any of these innovative treatments and pain management strategies, contact your local pain treatment office. Many medical facilities can provide you with these treatments and more information.

By Dr. James  Lin
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Do you suffer from ever-present lower back pain that leaves you breathless and keeling over? If so, you may want to ask your doctor about undergoing an healing procedure called a laser discectomy. Successfully used to treat those afflicted by back pain, this course of action may be the answer you have been hoping for.

The Cause of Your Pain

To understand how a laser discectomy heals back pain, you first need to understand what is causing your back inflammation and discomfort. A common reason is a bulging or herniated disc in your spine. Due to this malformation, your spinal cord or nerve root forgo great pressure from the herniated disc material. When the disc makes contact with the spinal cord or nerve, it causes the immediate and jaw-clenching pain you are so familiar with.

How it Works

Once it has been decided that your pain is caused from bulging discs putting pressure on your spinal cord, the laser discectomy procedure can begin. This is typically an outpatient procedure that can be completed at many hospitals. Once the procedure area has been numbed, a specialist will insert a long needle into the affected disc space. The needle contains a laser that burns and vaporizes the herniated disc material, creating immediate relief. Read more »

Chronic back pain can be debilitating. Many people with this problem struggle to find the right pain management options. Fortunately, there are several great doctors available to help you. In addition, you can try the following remedies to deal with back pain.

Stand Up Straight

Poor posture can contribute to back pain. When you are exercising or walking around town, make sure to stand up straight. If your back is crunched over, the pain can increase dramatically. A good posture will alleviate some of the pressure in your back, and it can prevent strains.

Avoid Too Much Bed Rest

When you have back pain, it is tempting to turn to bed rest to resolve the problem. Unfortunately, if the pain is in your lower back area, bed rest can increase your discomfort. It is much better to exercise and stay active throughout the day. Read more »

Minor aches and pains are pretty normal to everyday life. These kinds of pain are most likely caused by something minor and will either go away on their own or be treated using over-the-counter medications. However, some people experience mild to severe pain on a daily basis. This chronic pain needs to be looked at by a medical professional so that you can get treatment that will actually make a difference. Your daily routine should not be a struggle. Seek a doctor’s help when your bodily pain becomes a part of day-to-day life to effective treat chronic pain.

Getting Therapy

There are numerous treatments your doctor might suggest to treat chronic pain. Physical therapy is one option. The pain you are experiencing can be made worse by exercising incorrectly, and getting physical therapy will ensure that you do not overdo your exercise regimen, and you will end up building up a tolerance for the pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also be recommended so that you better understand the relationship between your body and mind and how chronic pain affects that relationship. Read more »

Back pain makes you miserable, no matter the severity. When it becomes chronic, it can affect your overall physical and mental health. It can cause frustration, discouragement and depression because you are always uncomfortable. You may miss opportunities to interact with your children or feel that you cannot participate in activities, because you are fearful it will make the ache worse. Rather than trying to mask the pain with over-the-counter medications, you may benefit from a lumbar epidural steroid injection (ESI).

What Is a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection?

An ESI is a commonly used treatment for backaches, as well as for leg discomfort from issues like sciatica. It is usually effective in treating acute pain, with benefits lasting for one week to as long as a year. One is often used in conjunction with a rehabilitation program. Because the injection reduces the intensity of the problem, a patient can feel more able to do stretching exercises and other physical therapy.

How Does It Work?

An ESI is a combination of corticosteroid, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and a local anesthetic. The latter gives the patient immediate pain relief while the former slowly works to reduce swelling and inflammation, which ultimately reduces the pressure that is causing the discomfort. Injections can damage soft tissues, so a lumbar epidural steroid injection is usually not given more than three times a year at the same site. Read more »

If you suffer from back pain, your doctor may recommend lumbar discography. A pain specialist can perform a discography to evaluate the back pain and plan for surgery. This procedure is sometimes referred to as a discogram. In most cases, the results of the test are hard to find any other way.

Why Is a Discography Performed?

Typically, a discography is performed before lumbar fusion surgery. In order for the test to be successful, an experienced discographer is needed. This individual can evaluate the test to help the spine surgeon perform a better surgery. In circumstances where a skilled discographer is unavailable, this test can be very subjective. In these scenarios, the surgeon may decide against the test.

Patients who can benefit from a discography have substantial pain in their lower back, hip, legs, and groin. Usually, these people have already tried pain remedies that are more conservative. When these efforts fail to alleviate the pain, a lumbar discography can be helpful. Read more »

Kyphoplasty is a treatment designed to reduce back pain and correct debilitating deformities in the vertebrae of the spine. With the professional insight, assistance, and education provided by a qualified doctor, you can experience the benefits that come as a result of receiving this treatment. If you are trying to decide whether or not it is the right route for you, here are some potential benefits of this treatment. Your doctor can also provide additional information about effective treatment options. Read more »