Back pain affects a lot of people. Statistics show that 80% of the living population will have back related problems in their lives. Though avoiding back pain is not entirely achievable, knowing a thing or two about the various elements that contribute to the problem is beneficial. Most doctors not only fail to pinpoint the underlying cause of the problem but also fail to write out a prescription that restores poor function to good. When deciding on the right back pain doctor Houston, TX, there are a number of things to consider.
This can be one of the most frustrating conditions for patients as well as for their doctors. First, many patients don't recognize that the discomfort is not, in and of itself, a condition. Instead, it is a symptom which points to another condition and identifying that condition based on back pain alone can be difficult. As a result of the multitude of causes which can lead to discomfort on the spine, there are many different treatments available.
We've reached the point in modern medicine where most of the treatments for most of the common body system dysfunctions are palliative. The common treatment for this discomfort is just as useless as the common treatment for headaches, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, reflux... You name it. Pills to mask symptoms! It makes you wonder why people go to doctors at all if that's the level of treatment the can expect.
In the majority of the cases, the practitioners are usually in the hurry to use the prescription to mask the discomfort, thereby failing to address the problem from its root cause. But it doesn't matter to either the doctor or the customer because the discomfort is relieved and that's all that matters. They collude with each other in this tawdry transaction. The customer expects a prescription for a pill. The doctor expects to write it. It's a perfectly balanced equation.
There are innumerable medications available, and many can be effective when dealing with certain types of temporary discomfort. Over the counter medications, like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications can be good for short-term discomfort, but often cannot be used for chronic pain. Opioid painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine can be used with a prescription but can pose difficulties with long-term use if the cause of the discomfort isn't identified.
For some types of chronic pain, stimulating the nerves with electrical pulses can provide relief. These treatments rely on battery operated devices which deliver an electrical current by way of the skin to small electrodes placed near the painful area. This stimulates the nerves in such a way that the pain messages being sent to the brain are interrupted, reducing the amount of discomfort being perceived by the patient.
Most people suffering from lumbago do not consider surgery as their first choice in addressing their back pains. Doctors may recommend therapy, medication, changes in posture, adjustments in diet, and may even recommend surgery for more serious cases. However, if you're among those looking to hasten their recovery period from back discomfort, you may choose to undergo additional therapy, in addition to what your doctor recommends.
The many different treatments available and the multitude of causes behind the discomfort can make choosing the right treatment a complex matter. For many people, going to a general practitioner isn't enough. Back pain doctors are the specialists best qualified to diagnose causes of the discomfort and to determine which treatments will be most effective at both reducing back pain and at addressing the specific cause of the patient's discomfort. General practitioners, for this reason, frequently refer patients to a Houston, TX pain doctor.
This can be one of the most frustrating conditions for patients as well as for their doctors. First, many patients don't recognize that the discomfort is not, in and of itself, a condition. Instead, it is a symptom which points to another condition and identifying that condition based on back pain alone can be difficult. As a result of the multitude of causes which can lead to discomfort on the spine, there are many different treatments available.
We've reached the point in modern medicine where most of the treatments for most of the common body system dysfunctions are palliative. The common treatment for this discomfort is just as useless as the common treatment for headaches, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, reflux... You name it. Pills to mask symptoms! It makes you wonder why people go to doctors at all if that's the level of treatment the can expect.
In the majority of the cases, the practitioners are usually in the hurry to use the prescription to mask the discomfort, thereby failing to address the problem from its root cause. But it doesn't matter to either the doctor or the customer because the discomfort is relieved and that's all that matters. They collude with each other in this tawdry transaction. The customer expects a prescription for a pill. The doctor expects to write it. It's a perfectly balanced equation.
There are innumerable medications available, and many can be effective when dealing with certain types of temporary discomfort. Over the counter medications, like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications can be good for short-term discomfort, but often cannot be used for chronic pain. Opioid painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine can be used with a prescription but can pose difficulties with long-term use if the cause of the discomfort isn't identified.
For some types of chronic pain, stimulating the nerves with electrical pulses can provide relief. These treatments rely on battery operated devices which deliver an electrical current by way of the skin to small electrodes placed near the painful area. This stimulates the nerves in such a way that the pain messages being sent to the brain are interrupted, reducing the amount of discomfort being perceived by the patient.
Most people suffering from lumbago do not consider surgery as their first choice in addressing their back pains. Doctors may recommend therapy, medication, changes in posture, adjustments in diet, and may even recommend surgery for more serious cases. However, if you're among those looking to hasten their recovery period from back discomfort, you may choose to undergo additional therapy, in addition to what your doctor recommends.
The many different treatments available and the multitude of causes behind the discomfort can make choosing the right treatment a complex matter. For many people, going to a general practitioner isn't enough. Back pain doctors are the specialists best qualified to diagnose causes of the discomfort and to determine which treatments will be most effective at both reducing back pain and at addressing the specific cause of the patient's discomfort. General practitioners, for this reason, frequently refer patients to a Houston, TX pain doctor.
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