Are you living with chronic back pain? If so, you aren't the only one. In fact, nearly 65 million Americans have recently reported experiencing this uncomfortable condition.

If you've already tried doctor-prescribed medications or physical therapy, you might feel that you're out of options. But, there's still hope! Many sufferers of back pain are seeking a new type of treatment - lumbar epidural injections.

In this article, we'll walk you through the big benefits of injections for back pain, and help you decide if they are right for you. Keep reading for all the details!

Why Choose Injections for Back Pain?

There are tons of different treatment paths for chronic pain. And you should absolutely consult with a doctor before deciding which one is right for you. This is especially true if your pain started as the result of a back injury.

It's also essential to keep in mind that lumbar injections work differently than most standard remedies, and in some cases, may be combined with prescription medication, exercise, and other pain management techniques. There's nothing that says you have to use all traditional or all-natural remedies for pain management.

You'll want to share a detailed medical history containing your past and current pain treatments with your doctor before trying an epidural for back pain. And, if you haven't seen a doctor yet, you might need to start with a consultation, followed by imaging and other non-invasive testing.

Before deciding whether lumbar injections are right for you, it's also essential to consider the following points:

Nerve Pain and Inflammation

When properly placed in the lumbar region, steroid injections decrease inflammation and reduce your nerves' sensitivity to pain. This results in fewer pain signals being sent between your brain and your back, and less overall discomfort.

That's why injections for sciatica are particularly successful - and popular!

While it is true that an oral steroid can also relieve these symptoms, they often come along with unpleasant side effects like weight gain, fatigue, and even pain. Plus, using them on a long-term basis can negatively impact your overall health.

Reduced Reliance on Medication

Unless you've been living under a rock, you already know that the United States has a problem with prescription pain medication. In fact, the overdose epidemic is currently considered one of the country's most severe public health emergencies.

Even if you've never struggled with addiction, opioid drugs are nothing to fool around with. And, while a traditional back pain doctor in Phoenix might sell you on pills rather than treating the source of your pain, the risks just aren't worth the short term gains. Addiction can wreak havoc on the body, mind, finances, and more!

Thankfully, lumbar injections can relieve your pain without the chance of addiction. And, while they do use powerful pain medication, you won't risk accidentally testing positive for opioids at work.

Support Physical Therapy

In most cases, physical therapy is essential to healing from a back injury and returning to normal daily activities. That's because the exercise helps rebuild muscle and give your back the strength needed to support itself.

But, it's hard to engage in regular exercise when you're dealing with daily back pain!

Lumbar injections can provide sufficient relief to allow you to move forward with rehabilitative physical therapy. This, in turn, will help you heal faster and feel better. It will also reduce the chances of a secondary injury.

Postpone Surgery

Spinal surgery is just about every back pain sufferer's worst nightmare. It's expensive, painful, and takes ages to recover from. And the results aren't guaranteed!

Major back surgery can also be a game-changer when it comes to your job, hobbies, and social experiences. How serious the aftermath is, depends on the type and severity of your surgery.

Thankfully, the pain relief some patients experience after using lumbar epidural steroid injections can help to postpone surgery. While, in some cases, this just puts off the inevitable for a few extra months or years, that's not always the case.

If following your injections, a physical therapy treatment plan is effective; it could eventually eliminate the need for surgery altogether!

Multiple Treatment Options

Depending on the type of pain you are living with, and whether your back problems began as an injury, there are different options available for lumbar injections.

Three different routes - the transforaminal, interlaminar, and caudal are available. And, where your doctor performs the injection will depend on which nerves are being targeted. In some cases, fluoroscopy or x-ray is used to guide the placement.

No matter which treatment is right for you, this type of injection is highly successful. The majority of patients experience fast pain relief that lasts for weeks, months, or even an entire year!

Today, lumbar epidural injections are being used to treat lumbar herniated discs, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spinal stenosis. It may also help with some cases of axial back pain, neurogenic claudication, lower back pain, and sciatica.

Easy Procedure

While spinal injections might sound scary at first, the procedure is surprisingly non-invasive!

A local anaesthetic is typically used, so you'll barely feel a pinch as the injection is administered. Extremely nervous patients may also have the option to use a light sedative to help keep calm throughout the procedure - though it is uncommon. And, the typical treatment takes less than 30 minutes in a doctor's office.

Your doctor will likely ask you to wait in their office after your treatment is complete. This gives their medical team time to observe your reaction. And, you should refrain from heavy lifting, sports, and other vigorous physical activity for several days following your procedure.

Natural Pain Management Near You

Now that you've learned a bit about how injections for back pain work, you're probably excited to get the process started. That's great! Reading this blog post could potentially be your first step on the road to recovery.

Do you have more questions about our services? Call (480) 900 7373 or contact us for assistance with insurance, to view our patient resources, or to schedule your appointment. Our patient and professional staff is standing by and happy to help!

We proudly serve the greater Phoenix area via three convenient clinics.

About 48 million surgical inpatient procedures were performed in a single year. In many cases, surgery can help you avoid pain or disability in the future. Still, you're bound to experience pain in the days after your surgery.

Chronic pain can impact your quality of life. You might struggle to complete work, play with your kids, or complete daily functions.

With these tips on post-surgical pain management, you can ease your pain and get back to living.

Discover the best methods for chronic pain relief with these tips today.

Plan Ahead

You don't have to wait until your pain is severe to start using these pain management tips. In fact, waiting too long can make it more difficult for you to ease your pain.

Instead, pay attention to your surgeon's instructions. They'll indicate how often you should take your pain medications. Otherwise, pay attention to any side effects you experience.

Ask your doctor what you can do to minimize your side effects.

You can also plan ahead by talking to your doctor about your previous experience with pain. What helps you manage your pain in the past? What hasn't worked?

Reviewing your medical history can help your doctor determine the best course of action for your situation.

Talk to your doctor about the medications they want you to take, too. What medications and supplements are you currently taking? They'll need this list to help you avoid interactions.

You might need to change your drug regimen before your surgery.

Talk to your doctor about your current drug and alcohol use. Are you recovering from addiction? Are you currently abusing alcohol or drugs?

This information will help them determine which medications you should take.

If you're at any point concerned, let your doctor know. They'll help you understand how to safely take your post-surgical pain medications.

Pain Medications

After surgery, your doctor might prescribe multiple analgesics to ease your pain. Pay attention to the type, delivery, and dose for each medication.

Many doctors prescribe opioids, which can diminish your body's perception of pain. These can include:

• Hydromorphone
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Tramadol
• Fentanyl

Opioids are addictive. Stick to the dose your doctor prescribes. Otherwise, you could experience side effects such as:

• Constipation
• Sedation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Respiratory depression

You could develop a tolerance or dependence on the drugs, too. If you experience any of these side effects, speak with your doctor right away.

When taking opioids:

• Take as directed
• Tell your doctor when your pain is under control
• Avoid using alcohol
• Store the medication safely
• Safely dispose of unused medications
• Don't share the medication with anyone else

Your doctor might suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well. Many of these medications, like Advil and Aleve, are available over the counter. Make sure to get your doctor's approval before using NSAIDs.

Head to Bed

After surgery, your body needs to heal. Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Sleeping will give your body the chance to recharge.

It can also help you cope with or reduce your pain symptoms.

It's normal to experience insomnia after surgery. You might need to talk to your doctor to find a medication that will help you sleep.

Otherwise, maintain good sleep hygiene. Find a dark, quiet place to relax. Stick to a schedule to maintain your circadian rhythm.

Get Active

Don't rush to get physically active right away. Instead, speak with your doctor to determine when it's safe. Slowly start increasing your physical activity over time.

Don't push yourself beyond a few minutes a day.

Increasing your physical activity levels will help you recover.

Otherwise, try to avoid sitting in one place for too long. Instead, walk around every hour or so. Moving around will help you avoid stiffness and blood clots.

If you're in too much pain to stand, let your doctor know.

Brace Yourself

You can brace the surgical incision to minimize your pain as well. When you stand, cough, or sneeze, hold the surgery site. This can help minimize stress on the area.

It can also reduce your chance of a severe complication, such as evisceration or dehiscence.

Reduce Stress

Reducing your stress levels can also help reduce your post-surgical pain. Think of surgery as a physical stressor. Reducing your emotional stress levels can minimize your overall pain.

Try to avoid any people or situations that often cause you pain after the accident. Try yoga, edition, or breathing techniques as well.

Work With the Pros

You can also visit pain relief experts for chronic pain relief after your surgery. Our back pain doctors near Mesa, AZ are trained to help.

They can review a list of treatments that might help relieve your pain.

First, your doctors will determine where your pain is centralized. For example, let's say you're experiencing back pain and sciatica. Your pain management doctors might suggest:

• Lumbar transforaminal epidural injection
• Lumbar medial branch block
• Lumbar radiofrequency ablation
• Lumbar epidural steroid injection
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Kyphoplasty

In some cases, chronic pain can fail to respond to medications and other forms of treatment. Injecting pain medication straight into the surgical site can help block pain. The bundle of nerves that carry pain signals will no longer transmit to the brain.

Make sure to speak with your back pain doctors near Mesa, AZ about your surgery in detail. They can help develop a treatment plan that's ideal for you.

With their help, you can discover chronic pain relief.

Goodbye, Aches and Pains: Your Guide to Post-Surgical Pain Management

Don't let your post-surgical pain control your life. Instead, consider these pain management tips. With these tips, you can get the help you need through chronic pain relief.

Instead of letting your pain control your life, you can take control again!

Need help managing your chronic pain? Visit our back pain doctors in Phoenix, AZ. We're here to help.

Contact us today to get started.

Do you suffer from sciatic pain or sciatica?

If you do or know someone who does, then you know that it can be debilitating. Sciatic pain can make simple things like walking, working, and even sitting quite difficult.

This condition is often caused by a herniated disk, a bone spur, or the narrowing of the spine. These things can all compress the nerve, which results in inflammation, pain, and numbness that follows the path of the sciatic nerve. In most cases, sciatic pain only travels down one side of the body, but it can reach from the lower back all the way down the leg.

Fortunately, most instances of sciatic pain go away on their own in time. Some people suffer from recurring severe sciatic pain, or severe sciatica, which can lead to surgery down the road to relieve it.

No matter what the case, though, anyone who experiences sciatic pain desires immediate sciatica relief in the short term. There are a number of different things you can do to achieve this.

If you are looking for ways to relieve sciatica, read on. Some or all of the following ideas may help you find some relief while you wait for the sciatic flare-up to subside.

1. Walk Around

Sciatica often worsens when someone with sciatic pain spends too much time sitting. If you work at a desk, or simply sit a lot at home, make sure you get up and walk around periodically.

Move your body. When you sit still too long, your sciatic nerve can become more compressed, which will only increase the pain that you experience. Stand up whenever you get a chance to do so.

2. Exercise

You may be hesitant to exercise when you are experiencing sciatic pain, but it can help. Just like getting up and walking around a bit at work or at home can loosen up the compression around your sciatic nerve, exercise can have an even greater effect.

Try some low-impact exercise. A short walk may be all you need to feel a lot better fast.

3. Try a Heating Pad

The application of heat to an area can increase blood flow. That, in turn, can help to soothe your muscles that have become sore as they react to your pinched sciatic nerve.

A heating pad is a great investment for any home if you don't have one already. Try applying heat to the areas that hurt in fifteen to twenty-minute increments, but take breaks in between so you don't accidentally burn yourself and end up hurting more.

4. Ice Up

For some, ice works better than heat when it comes to sciatica relief. Cold therapy works to reduce inflammation and to numb areas that are experiencing pain.

As with the heating pad, however, don't apply cold packs for too long; you can give yourself frostbite if you're not careful. Wrap ice packs in a paper towel to limit the cold that directly reaches your skin, and be sure to move your ice pack to a different area after fifteen minutes of focused application or so.

5. Practice Yoga

Yoga is good for you for so many reasons, but one excellent benefit of this type of stretching exercise is the fact that it can reduce sciatic nerve pain. This can be helpful when you are experiencing a sciatic episode because it gets you up and moving and it will help you to reduce the compression of your nerve.

If your sciatica is a recurring issue, a regular yoga practice can help you to resolve this problem. Many people find that participation in a daily practice results in a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain flare-ups.

There are yoga classes offered in almost every community; a quick internet search will connect you with a teacher and a facility. If you prefer to practice at home, there are hundreds of free yoga classes that are accessible online.

All yoga postures will help you with your sciatica, but there are some poses that will be especially helpful for this condition. Pigeon pose and all of its variations are wonderful lower back and glute stretches that will promote big relief, and hamstring and spinal stretches of all kinds will be helpful as well.

6. Sit Up Straight

How's your posture?

If you don't sit up and stand up straight, you may be surprised to learn how much failing to do so can negatively affect your sciatica.

When you're standing and walking, stand up tall and pull your shoulders back. If you have been slouching all of your life, this will feel strange at first and it may take some getting used to. However, in time, you can correct your posture, and you'll be happy to see the reduction in sciatic nerve pain that will follow.

When you're sitting, sit up straight. If you often sit at a desk, find a chair that can be adjusted for your ergonomic needs. You may also consider elevating your feet a bit to take the pressure off of your back.

7. Choose Practical Shoes

If you're a woman who often wears high heels, or a man who wears a boot with a heel, you may want to switch out the shoes you usually wear for more practical ones. Your body was built with flat feet in mind, and when you elevate your heel, you may put unnecessary strain on your sciatic nerve.

Instead, choose shoes that are comfortable and well-cushioned and that are made to support your feet. You should be able to stand up straight easily when wearing them. This simple change can make a big difference when it comes to sciatica relief.

8. Talk to a Doctor

If despite these changes your pain does not subside, it's time to speak with a doctor about your pain. You may need additional guidance and support in your quest for relief. Some people who suffer from sciatica need physical therapy if their sciatic pain is persistent or severe. A specialist can help you. Sciatica is not uncommon and medical professionals will have many additional tips and tricks to help you break free from your pain.

Find Sciatica Relief

If you suffer from sciatica or sciatic pain, relief is constantly on your mind. All of the above sciatica relief tips will help you to avoid this type of pain now and in the future. If you try one and it doesn't work for you, move onto the next one. Every body is different and different things work for different people. Try them all and good luck!

Do you need help with your sciatic nerve pain? We can help! Please give us a call today to learn more about the treatments we offer for this issue. We can't wait to help you experience relief.

If you're looking to get fit and healthy, exercise is the way to go! One of the best ways to get moving is to play sports—not only does it encourage teamwork, but you'll get all the health benefits without the mundane gym routine.

If you actively play sports, there's a chance you'll encounter an injury at some point in your life. The first thing you want to do is talk to a sports injury doctor so you can alleviate any associated chronic pain. But what if you aren't sure what questions you should be asking?

Well, then you've come to the right place!

Keep reading to find out the 7 questions to ask a sports injury doctor to find pain relief.

1. What Type of Sports Injuries Do You Treat?

The demands for each sport predisposes a person to specific injuries. The injuries sustained in a football game are doing to be different from those in tennis. Sports injury doctors are going to be knowledgeable about specific injuries that occur with each type of sport.

For example, basketball players are prone to ankle sprains or jammed fingers. Soccer players are more susceptible to foot fractures or concussions. If you're looking for chronic pain relief, you'll want a doctor that understands the different types of injuries and knows how to treat them.

2. What Is Causing My Pain?

If you know where your pain is coming from, you'll understand the exact problem. You might often feel pain in one part of your body, but the source is from another area. When you ask your sports injury doctor about the cause of your pain, you'll be more informed about your condition and can continue to look for more resources.

The right sports injury doctor in Phoenix can take a look at your conditions and start getting you on the right path to recovery.

3. Have You Seen This Before?

It is important to understand your doctor's credentials and build trust. One of the best ways to do this is by asking if a physician has seen your type of injury before. You don't want to worry about an inexperienced sports injury doctor providing the wrong treatment; this can cost you a lot of time and money.

There's a chance your reason for chronic pain is common, and the doctor can share treatments that have worked on other patients. This is also a great question to ask because it can reassure you that other people have had this type of pain. If your syndrome is rare, the right sports injury doctor will be able to educate you about it.

4. How Much Experience Do You Have?

Although there are plenty of doctors who are new to the medical industry and do great, you'll want an experienced doctor if you're suffering from chronic pain. It doesn't need to be an uncomfortable question; it should be additional reassurance that you're getting the best help possible.

You can ask how many patients they treated in their past, how many years the doctor has been managing sports injuries and the success rate of treatments. This will give you an idea of what to expect, and if anything seems suspicious, you can look for someone more qualified.

5. How Long Before Until I Can Play Again?

It's understandable that you want to hit fast-forward on the healing process and get back to doing what you love. That's why it's good to understand the timeline of your treatment. In addition to asking about recovery times, you'll want to talk to your doctor about test results and treatment outcomes.

This will help you understand your treatment better, and you'll be able to start counting down the days that you can return to your sport.

6. What Are My Treatment Options?

The first step to pain management is knowing what the right treatment is. There are many options available for treating chronic pain, and you'll want to ask your doctor about all the different options. Be sure to understand each treatment's pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision.

Once you've made that decision, you should feel confident in your ability to follow that treatment plan. The goal is to heal as efficiently and comfortably as possible. The right doctor will help make that happen.

7. How Much Will My Treatment Cost?

32% of American workers have medical debt. With that said, it's no surprise if you want to be cautious about how much your treatment might cost. The last thing you need when you're checking the mail is a surprise bill that you thought was already paid.

Instead of anticipating the worst, be sure to ask your doctor how much treatment will cost. As with most medical procedures, these charges will vary from one physician to another. Be sure to understand the cost so that you can focus on healing as opposed to the finances.

Your sports injury doctor should be transparent about all the costs. You can also ask about any financing options that might be available.

What to Ask Your Sports Injury Doctor

Any physically demanding activity is going to make you susceptible to injuries. Playing sports is no exception. Don't let it deter you from continuing something enjoyable and beneficial! It's important that you have the right sports injury doctor when the inevitable does happen so that you can be back on the field (or court) as quickly as possible.

As you talk to your doctor, be sure to ask these 7 questions that will give you better insight into your injuries. Before you know it, the pain will be gone, and you'll be ready to work up a sweat.

If you've ever had a sports injury and are starting to feel some chronic pain, don't ignore it! Contact us to book an appointment and start feeling better today.