According to a study done by Mayo Clinic, back pain is the third most common reason people visit the doctor. Fortunately, in recent years, major advancements have been made when it comes to diagnosing and treating back pain. An exciting subspecialty known as interventional spine medicine uses innovative techniques to help patients function and feel better.
Interventional spine medicine utilizes minimally invasive procedures and special imaging technology to not only pinpoint the location of the pain, but treat it right it at its source. In many cases, this allows the patient to go a more conservative route and avoid surgery altogether.
In some circumstances, however, surgery cannot be avoided. Traditionally, spine surgery was done as “open surgery,” meaning a long incision was required. With interventional spine medicine, surgery can be performed using a much smaller incision, causing less damage to the surrounding muscles and ligaments. This can often be done on an outpatient basis. The benefits of this type of surgery include:
Specialists who work in interventional spine medicine generally take a holistic approach to patient care. Each patient undergoes a thorough evaluation to allow the specialist to come up with a personalized treatment plan. The goal is to improve the patient’s overall well-being by working synergistically with other medical disciplines. For example, alleviating a patient’s back pain with an injection may allow for participation in physical therapy, which will continue to further strengthen the back and spine. Or meeting with a psychologist to address how a patient’s chronic pain has had a significant emotional impact can help heal via the mind-body connection.
There are a number of both surgical and non-surgical options that fall under the umbrella of interventional spine medicine. When it comes to treating conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, and lumbar stenosis, some commonly used procedures include:
If you’d like to learn more about whether interventional spine medicine is right for you, start by doing some research. Although there are many great doctors out there, if you are looking for a reputable specialist, keep in mind the following factors:
Once you find a specialist who meets your criteria, schedule a consultation. This may be the first step toward finding the lasting relief you are seeking.