Many people assume that surgery is the only option for chronic back pain. However, this isn’t true. Spinal injections and regenerative medicine therapies have proven very effective at treating chronic back pain.
As an interventional pain management specialist, Vladimir Fiks, MD, brings an integrative approach to his patients in Portland, Oregon. Here are two surgery-free options for back and spine pain that you can find at Advanced Pain Management Center. The best part? Dr. Fiks can perform these therapies during an office visit, so you can go home the same day.
If you have intense back or neck pain, a spinal injection may offer relief.
There are several types of spinal injections. What makes them highly effective with back pain is that they work by delivering medication directly to the area causing you pain. Dr. Fiks can also use spinal injections as a diagnostic tool to help identify your source of pain.
Common spinal injections include:
To administer a spinal injection, Dr. Fiks often uses digital imaging to guide the needle to the specific location causing you pain. Once delivered, your treatment may be able to reduce pain and inflammation or even disable the tissue causing your symptoms.
Spinal injections can reduce pain for a variety of conditions, including muscle strains, arthritis, disk problems, osteoporosis, and sciatica.
In addition to spinal injections, Dr. Fiks also offers several regenerative therapies designed to trigger the healing process within the body. Based on your condition, he might recommend MLS laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma therapy, or stem cell treatments.
MLS laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to trigger healing in damaged cells and accelerate the recovery process, both of which can help reduce pain. Treatments take less than 10 minutes and are generally risk-free.
For the best results, Dr. Fiks recommends a series of up to 10 treatments. This therapy is especially helpful in treating strains, injured muscles, neurological issues, and degenerative joint diseases.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy utilizes platelets in your blood — which contain powerful growth factors — to repair damage and trigger the healing process. It’s especially helpful for soft tissue injuries and certain conditions, such as arthritis and tendonitis.
When you have PRP therapy, Dr. Fiks draws a sample of your blood. Then he puts it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the other components in your blood. Then he injects the platelet serum into the injured area to spur healing.
Stem cells can become any cell needed. With stem cell therapy, some stem cells are removed from your body — usually from bone marrow — and then they’re injected into the area that needs healing. Once they’re injected, they can help in the rebuilding process of cartilage, bones, organs, and other tissues.
The unique capabilities of stem cells make them a powerful treatment option for managing chronic back pain.
For more ways to relieve chronic back pain, book an appointment over the phone with Advanced Pain Management Center today.
