Treatment
By Anne Asher, About.com Guide
- Types of Back and Neck Treatments
- Conservative Care for Back Pain
- Back Doctors
- Medications and Drugs
- Back Surgery
- Pain and Pain Management
- Preventing Neck and Back Pain
- First Aid for Back and Neck Injury
- Alt Medicine and Bodywork
Types of Back and Neck Treatments
Treatment for back and neck pain ranges from "conservative care," (easy things like ice packs and exercises) to very invasive measures -- such as back surgery. Most of the time, your doctor will start your treatment as conservatively as possible, and, based on your back or neck's response, will determine your need for more invasive measures. This section presents the spectrum of treatment disciplines.
- Back Treatments Overview
- Home Treatments for Back Pain
- Which Doctors Treat Back Pain?
- Pain Management
- Over-the-Counter Pain Meds
- Holistic Treatments for Back Pain
- Is Chiropractic for You?
- Back Surgery
- Ankylosing Spondylitis - Medication News
Conservative Care for Back Pain
Conservative care consists of physical therapy, medications, home exercise programs and manual therapy (thin massage). With conservative, non-invasive treatments, nothing is inserted into your spine, and you are not opened up on the operating table. In short, the risk is low, but in some cases, the effectiveness rate may be lower, too.
- At Home Back and Neck Treatments
- Back Care On A Budget
- Non-Surgical Treatments for Herniated Disc
- Non-Invasive Back Care
- Conservative Treatments
- Should You Stretch An Acute Back Injury?
- Ways to Align Your Spine
- Should You Use an Exercise Ball As Your Office Chair?
- Yoga for Back Pain
- Traction
- Ice
Back Doctors
Most of the time back pain goes away by itself. However, there are a few signs that may indicate the need for an appointment with a spine doctor or, in some cases, a trip to the emergency room. When in doubt, it is important to call your doctor. This section gives information for the times when it is appropriate to seek medical attention for your back or neck pain.
- Types of Back Doctors
- Talking to Your Spine Doctor About Your Symptoms
- How do you Prepare for Seeing Your Spine Doctor? Share Your Story.
- Signs You Need to See A Back Doctor
- Physiatrist - Physical Medicine Doctor
- Pain Management Medicine
- Chiropractor
- Osteopath
- Keep Track of Your Symptoms with a VAS Scale
- Doctor Appointment by Email?
Medications and Drugs
This section contains drug profiles along with definitions of terms you should know if you take mediciation for back or neck pain. Be an educated consumer!
- Medications Overview
- What are NSAIDs?
- Over-the-Counter Pain Medications
- Drug Terms
- Tylenol for Neck or Back Pain
Back Surgery
No one wants to be cut up. It can be painful, inconvenient and risky. But if you've gotten little to no relief with conservative, non-invasive treatments, your doctor may suggest surgery. Here's the run down on back and neck surgery.
- Back Surgery
- Surgery for Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Discectomy
- Spinal Fusion With Discectomy?
- Spinal Fusion for Chronic Low Back Pain?
- What Is A Bone Graft?
- Failed Back Surgery Syndrome - FBSS
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Injections
- Botox for Chronic Pain
- Implanted Neurostimulation
- Prolotherapy
- Steroids for Sciatica Pain?
- Cervical Spinal Fusion
- Cervical Discectomy
- Use of Implants in Neck Surgery
- Total Disk Replacement
- Risks of Drug Infusion Pumps
Pain and Pain Management
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having exhausted all your treatment options with unsatisfactory results, you may need pain management. Pain management is a branch of medicine that treats your pain as the disease. By nature, it is a multidisciplinary approach to the management of out-of-control pain.
- What is Pain Management?
- Injections for Back or Neck Pain
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Healing Pain - By Ann Berger, M.D. - Book Review
- Understanding Pain - By American Academy of Neurology - Book Review
- Over-The-Counter Pain Medications
- Aspirin for Back Pain
- Implantable Drug Pumps
- Intrathecal Space
- Risks of Drug Pumps
Preventing Neck and Back Pain
What could be bettern than never getting back or neck pain in the first place? Here are some tips.
- Back Pain Myths
- Preventative Maintenance
- 10 Tips for Preventing Back Injury
- How to Lift Heavy Objects
- How NOT to Lift Heavy Objects
- Preventing Work Related Injuries
- Year-Round Tips for Preventing Summer Sports Injuries to Your Back
- Healthy Monday Campaign
- Ways to Align Your Spine
- Prevent Spinal Stenosis
- Is Your Back Ready for Yoga?
- Yoga for Your Back E-course
- Yoga for Spinal Flexibility E-course
- The Inner Secrets of Core Stabilization
- Pilates and Your Back
First Aid for Back and Neck Injury
No one wants to think the unthinkable, but most people are glad when someone on the scene of an injury has first aid certification and skill. This is especially true when it comes to injuries involving the neck. Getting the appropriate treatment for a neck or back injury as soon as it happens is extremely important to the outcome of that injury. This section contains information and procedures for emergency care for back and neck injuries.
Alt Medicine and Bodywork
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, back pain is the number one reason why people seek alternative or complementary medicine. Neck pain is number 3. While there are many types of alternative treatments available, the research on them has yet to catch up with those of standard medicine. So it is a buyer beware marketplace. This section will help you stay informed on the developments in this burgeoning field.
