Chronic back pain is a leading cause of disability and lost time in the workplace. With many possible origins, it’s often a difficult condition to treat since, even when the cause is known, your symptoms may not respond predictably.
More American adults suffer from chronic back pain than those who have arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes. That amounts to over 72 million people whose lives become more difficult to enjoy due to the presence of pain and limits on their mobility.
The treatment that’s right for you depends on the cause of your pain, and the team at Pain Management 360 can help, regardless of the reason. Dr. Rudy Malayil specializes in back pain treatments and stays current in this field through his membership with the North American Neuromodulation Society, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Advisory Board.
Dr. Malayil frequently recommends five innovative treatments that can help you get relief from chronic back pain. These may include approaches you haven’t encountered yet. No matter what the cause of your back pain, contact us as soon as possible so we can help you live easier and pain-free.
1. Vivex® Via Disc NP®
One cause of chronic back pain is the loss of volume of nucleus pulposus tissue, the gel-like central filling of intervertebral discs in your spine. This causes biomechanical changes that may reduce the space through which your nerve roots pass.
Chronic back pain results when nerves become compressed or irritated. Via Disc NP is a minimally-invasive injectable graft treatment that uses allogeneic nucleus pulposus to supplement your dwindling natural supply, restoring volume to your spinal discs.
2. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation therapy
Dense clusters of sensory nerves called the dorsal root ganglia run along the sides of your spinal column. Various ganglia lead away from your spine to different parts of your body.
When a single ganglion reports pain, a dorsal root ganglion stimulator permits you to change the nature of pain signals passing through the ganglion. Probes leading from an implanted generator receive instructions from a patient-operated remote to modulate pain signals.
3. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
SCS works the same way as DRG stimulation. The difference is that the probes from an SCS stimulator target nerves in the epidural space of your spinal column.
4. Intrathecal pain pump
Another implanted treatment, an intrathecal pain pump uses medication to alter your pain perception. The intrathecal space in your spine contains cerebrospinal fluid, and it’s into this space that the pump’s output gets placed. The pump connects with a remote that you control. Medications used depend on the type and intensity of your pain.
5. MILD® spine treatment
Spinal stenosis refers to any condition that reduces the size of your nerve passageways. While not always symptomatic, stenosis can cause nerve compression and irritation responsible for chronic pain.
Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD for short) uses small incisions to access bone and ligament that impedes nerve tissue passages. The minimally invasive nature of the procedure means less pain and faster recovery.
Regardless of the cause behind your chronic back pain, Pain Management 360 has an answer. Schedule a visit to the most convenient of our locations — Huntington, Hurricane, or Charleston, West Virginia — for an examination and diagnosis. From there, Dr. Malayil recommends a pain management plan that matches your needs. Call our office or request an appointment online today.
Pain Management 360
