Treating Back Pain Glastonbury
No More Chronic Back Pain
Nearly everyone deals with a bout of back pain at some point in their life. For some adults, the pain turns into an ongoing and crippling problem, making lower back pain the top cause of disability in people under age 45. As a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, Dr. Paul Tortland at New England Stem Cell Institute specializes in harnessing your body’s natural ability to treat back pain in Glastonbury.
What Causes Back Pain?
Back pain can develop due to many possible problems affecting the muscles, ligaments, nerves, vertebrae, and discs that form your spine and support your body. In many cases, lower back pain results when you strain a muscle during normal daily activities like twisting your back or lifting a heavy object. As you get older, changes caused by years of repetitive movement can break down some parts of your spine and start to take a toll, causing ongoing and often crippling back pain. Degenerative conditions that can also lead to chronic back pain include a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease.
What are the Common Symptoms of Back Pain?
Sometimes, pain is the primary symptom, especially if you have a stretched or torn muscle, ligament, or tendon. In many cases, back pain shows up when a spinal nerve is inflamed or compressed. When the nerves are affected, you could also have tingling or numbness that radiates out through your arms or legs. For example, a pinched sciatic nerve can cause excruciating pain down one leg.
Learn More About Symptoms of Back Pain
How is Back Pain Treated?
It’s no secret that back pain is one of the most difficult problems to treat. Oral medications can provide temporary relief, but they fail to deliver long-term results while putting you at risk of side effects.
Another option, pain management injections, utilizes a local anesthetic and steroids, which are injected near the nerves sending pain signals to your brain. Pain management injections often provide longer relief than oral anti-inflammatory medications. However, the medication eventually wears off, and injections that mask your pain don’t truly heal what’s causing it. The doctors at New England Stem Cell Institute offer regenerative medicine treatments that can reduce and sometimes eliminate chronic back pain by healing the source of the problem, such as:
Prolotherapy
This therapy uses a simple injection of sugar and anesthetic to stimulate your body’s healing process.
Prolozone®
This treatment combines prolotherapy with B vitamins, oxygen, and ozone gas to improve cellular function.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
PRP uses platelets extracted from your blood to trigger accelerated tissue healing.
Stem cell therapy
This procedure uses stem cells from your own bone marrow or body fat to generate new healthy tissues and reduce inflammation. Our team here at New England Stem Cell Institute doesn’t want to just manage your chronic pain: we also want to heal whatever is causing it! We’re experts in the field of regenerative medicine, and we’ve had success helping many patients overcome back pain.
Learn More About Stem Cell Treatment
Back Pain FAQs
When Should I See a Regenerative Medicine Doctor about My Back Pain?
Dr. Tortland and our non-surgical orthopedics team are qualified to help with many cases of back pain in Glastonbury. You should consider booking an appointment with us if:
- You have ongoing back pain that affects your daily quality of life.
- You wish to avoid invasive surgical procedures.
- You have a degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis, that is causing your back pain.
- You are struggling to recover from a back injury.
When you visit us for a consultation, we will learn the details of your situation and let you know what we recommend as your next steps.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Back Pain?
While you cannot make yourself invulnerable to the causes of back pain, there are some things you can do to greatly decrease your risk:
- Maintain proper posture.
- Try to stay at a healthy weight.
- Regularly do exercises to strengthen your core. (Walking is a great way to start, and you can work your way into a routine that includes more targeted movements for your core muscles.)
- Always use proper techniques when lifting heavy objects, and do not try to lift extremely heavy objects on your own.
- Use a back brace if recommended by a medical professional.
Does Back Pain Run in Families?
Often, members of the same family encounter similar issues with their backs. However, this can be the result of a range of factors. For example, family members may share similar lifestyles, which could contribute to back pain. Obesity, a risk factor for back pain, has some hereditary components. Osteoarthritis is also affected by genetics.
If members of your family struggle with back pain, ask them about the cause of their symptoms, and try to be proactive about reducing your own risk through lifestyle adjustments and regular medical care.
How Do I Know if I Need Surgery for Back Pain?
In our practice, we try to help patients avoid surgery whenever possible. After all, surgery comes with certain risks, it is not guaranteed to solve back problems, and it can lead to a lengthy recovery. With all that being said, there are some situations where surgery may be the best course of action.
For example, if your pain has not responded well to more conservative treatments, it might be time to think about visiting a surgeon. Our team can assist you as you contemplate this decision.
Whether or not you are a candidate for surgery will depend on the nature of your back pain, your age, overall health, and your projected ability to recover after the procedure.
What Can I Do at Home to Relieve Back Pain?
Home remedies can often be a valuable way to reduce back pain. In some cases, acute back issues can be resolved with only at-home care (though, of course, you should always visit a doctor if you have any concerns about your condition). Here are some tips that might help:
- Apply a cold or hot pack to the affected area to reduce inflammation or relax tense muscles.
- Engage in gentle stretching exercises, such as yoga or basic back stretches, to improve flexibility and relieve tension.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as directed for temporary relief.
- Avoid prolonged bed rest; try to stay active with light walking or daily activities as tolerated.
- Use supportive pillows or a mattress to promote proper spinal alignment during sleep.
- Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation to help ease muscle tension.