{"id":2965,"date":"2010-11-23T08:10:50","date_gmt":"2010-11-23T13:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ehealth.cooperhealth.org\/?p=2965"},"modified":"2010-11-23T08:10:50","modified_gmt":"2010-11-23T13:10:50","slug":"managing-back-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2010\/11\/23\/managing-back-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Back Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ManagingBack pain affects nearly 13 million Americans and is the second most common reason for lost days of work. There are many methods for managing pain, and some of the most innovative and promising treatments involve the use of technology by way of interventional procedures.<\/p>\n

Cooper University Hospital\u2019s Pain Management program is an interdisciplinary program with a unique specialty in technology-based interventional pain management. Back pain can be debilitating for some patients, but Cooper offers new technologies that can improve a person\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n

Below, Michael Sabia, MD, Pain Management Specialist at Cooper<\/a>, provides answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n

Q. If you\u2019re having back surgery, what is the estimated\/normal length of time for healing, rehabilitation and returning to work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> Depending on the approach or procedure, the healing process varies. The least invasive procedures can heal in a few weeks, involve a short course of rehabilitation, and patients can return to work in as quickly as one to two weeks.
\nThe more invasive procedures can take up to three months to heal.<\/p>\n

Q. What are some of the ways to treat back pain?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> At Cooper, we take a collective-care approach to pain management along with interventional procedures and medication management. When needed, we call on specialists from physiatry (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation), psychiatry, neurology, physical therapy, and spine surgery to evaluate treatment options. Our physicians keep current with the latest technological advances in the field, including new and modified interventional procedures.<\/p>\n

Q. If you\u2019ve been previously diagnosed with bulging or herniated discs in your lower back, and you would like to start walking for exercise but you still have pain, what should you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> A general rule of thumb is: Staying active will help modulate your pain compared to an inactive lifestyle. However, sometimes finding the precise balance of how much exercise you can do is a challenge. An evaluation by a pain physician can help determine if you would need a physical therapist to help guide you with your exercise, or if an epidural steroid injection would benefit you.<\/p>\n

Not all disc bulges are the same, which means the treatment varies depending on the condition. The pain from certain types of disc bulges requires an interventional procedure to improve, while others recover with physical therapy and anti-inflammatories.<\/p>\n

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