Finding an Effective Procedure for Severe Back Pain Baltimore MD

Back pain is a huge problem in the United States today.  It is responsible for many lost hours of production and leisure.  Individuals who are impacted by pain in the lower back, often called the lumbar region, note that their quality of life has become terrible as their level of pain has increased.  Therefore, an important part of any orthopedic medical practice is the provision of an effective procedure for severe back pain Baltimore MD.

Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD

There are a number of different kinds of treatment for lower back pain, including surgical ones.  The well-trained practitioner will, however, begin with the most conservative approaches before moving on to anything invasive.  This is not only done in order to "protect" patients, but also to find the simplest solution for managing pain and patient care. A progression of treatment steps might look something like this:

• Oral medication with an over-the-counter medication that is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID).  These go by brand names like Aspirin.  Sometimes, the physician will prescribe these in higher doses that are otherwise available when lower doses are not effective.
• Topical medications that are absorbed through the surface of the skin may be prescribed instead of, or along with, oral medications.
• Stronger medications may be another step in the treatment process.  Steroids can be utilized orally. Sometimes they are injected directly into the painful area of the lumbar spine.  Very strong painkillers that contain an opioid ingredient are also used in some cases. Both steroids and opioids have fairly significant side effect profiles.  By the time these interventions are being utilized, surgery for posterior lumbar fusion Baltimore MD may be offered to the patient as an option, particularly when they are nervous about taking these strong medications.
• There are a few different approaches to back surgery on the lumbar spine.  Certainly, fusing two or more of the small bones that make up the spine is one of the most effective ways to permanently control pain.  This procedure can serve to relieve pressure on compressed central nervous system structures that is almost always behind the physical distress.  Fusing the vertebrae together creates a rigid unit of bone that supports soft structures more effectively than a collection of individuals bones that may be breaking down due to some degenerative process like osteoarthritis.