I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
If you've spent years suffering from chronic neck, spinal, or pelvic pain, you may feel you've already tried every possible pain relief method out there, and are likely frustrated at finding only temporary respite from your symptoms. And if you're still fairly young, you may be nervous at the thought of developing a lifelong dependence on the pain-killing drugs you need to help you live a normal life. Fortunately, this area of medical science continues to advance, and a more permanent relief may be coming. Read on to learn more about three advances in pain relief targeted specifically at those suffering from chronic back pain.
Scrambler therapy
Pain is caused only after nerve signals from the affected area travel to your brain -- so while your pain may seem localized to your lower or upper back, the discomfort you feel is actually the result of a number of complex interactions between the nerve fibers in your spinal cord and brain. Over time and without proper treatment, the nerve fibers in the affected area may become even more sensitive, and can mistakenly begin sending out pain signals even when there's no physical reason for pain. Scrambler therapy attempts to disrupt this transmission of pain signals by rerouting these signals to non-receptive portions of the brain. This essentially provides your brain with a set of sound-muffling headphones, rendering it unable to hear the signals your nerve fibers are shouting.
By attaching electromagnetic sensors to certain parts of your skull (depending upon the type and frequency of the pain you experience), a technician should be able to scramble your pain signals during a single 30-minute session. The effects can last weeks or even months. In some cases, you may leave your appointment completely pain-free. In others, you may still notice your pain if you concentrate on it, but find that it's no longer at the forefront of your mind. If you find that this treatment is effective but later begin to experience additional pain, you'll need only to make a follow-up appointment to again enjoy a pain-free period of time.
Pneumatic vest
If your back pain is primarily confined to your lower back, and if your doctor has thus far expressed reluctance to perform any surgical interventions, you may be able to find some relief through a pneumatic vest. These vests help reduce the amount of weight you carry with your lower back, which can make it easier to walk, bend, and even jog for longer periods of time. Many patients have found that pneumatic vests provide a double benefit -- when it's easier for you to walk and move without pain, it's also easier for you to exercise and lose weight (which can further reduce the amount of pressure on your spine).
Radiofrequency ablation
Another innovation in the science of pain relief is radiofrequency ablation -- the use of a CT scan to guide a heated needle to the specific nerve fibers that are sending pain signals to your brain, helping destroy these fibers for as long as 3 to 6 months. Although this ablation is a more invasive treatment than scrambler therapy or wearing a vest, it can have an instant and long-term effect on your pain.
Radiofrequency ablation is also a good option for those who have suffered from chronic pain for so long that their nerves are misfiring and sending out pain signals when no actual pain exists. When these nerve fibers are destroyed, new nerve fibers have the opportunity to "re-learn" how to live without pain. Over time and with follow-up therapy, this procedure can all but eliminate chronic, long-term back pain. For more ideas on ways to relieve back pain, check out sites like http://www.swfna.com.
Share26 May 2015
