low back pain help

Lumbar Facet Pain and Nerve Blocks

Lumbar Facet Pain and Nerve Blocks

KEY POINTS:

Lumbar facet joints can be a cause of your pain.

Facet pain cannot be conclusively diagnosed by standard examination procedures or pain patterns.

Diagnostic nerve blocks are considered the gold standard for confirmation but they also suffer from limitations.

Pain relief from Facet Denervation (Medial Branch Neurotomy), although often significant, is rarely complete or permanent.

The decision on whether or not to consider Medial Branch Neurotomy should be based on understanding the expected outcomes, risks, and limitations of the procedure, in comparison to your current level of function.

Ablating (destroying) the nerve simply eliminates (or reduces) the ability to transmit pain signals. It DOES NOT identify or address the factors causing the pain or sensitization of structures supplied by that nerve

Lyrica, Neurontin, and Topamax for Low Back and Sciatic Pain-Do They Work?

Lyrica, Neurontin, and Topamax for Low Back and Sciatic Pain-Do They Work?

Introduction:

Over the last 5-10 years the use of anticonvulsants (Neurontin) (Lyrica) to treat low back pain and/or sciatica has increased dramatically. This has occurred despite clinical guidelines that recommend non-pharmacologic interventions rather than the use of stronger analgesics such as opioids and anticonvulsants. (1, 2)

Physicians are increasingly prescribing both gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) for almost any type of pain, according to a perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (3) This is occurring despite the FDA only approving both drugs for postherpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain due to diabetes or spinal cord injury.

Lumbar Stenosis: 5 Must Know Facts

Lumbar Stenosis: 5 Must Know Facts

Dealing with Lumbar Stenosis can be difficult, confusing, and cause a lot of frustration.

Life seems to speed up, and you seem to be slowing down, making it harder to keep pace with the things you want to do, and the activities that add value to your life.

The good news is, there is much you can do, on your own, to help you manage Lumbar Stenosis successfully, and there are also many options for care, each having something to offer to the right person, in the right situation.

A Confusing Maze of Back Pain Treatment

A Confusing Maze of Back Pain Treatment

The current approach in managing low back pain leaves a lot to be desired.

•The risk of a poor treatment outcome is higher than ever before.

•The incidence of chronic low back pain has risen 64% since the year 2000.

•BUT..the actual percentage of people experiencing “new” episodes of back pain has remained unchanged.

•Permanent disability is also on the rise.

•Even “first time” low back pain patients face up to a 45% chance of a less than optimum outcome with the care they receive.

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