Sprains and Strains
Most therapeutic approaches incorporate several modalities including rest, ice and/or heat, gentle stretching and range of motion, massage therapy, physical therapy, medications, body supports, modified activities and exercise. Imaging studies are helpful to rule out other potential serious problems. Most often, a team approach needs to be employed to optimize the care and recovery of the patient.
At Biscup Spine Institute we believe that communication amongst the health care providers is essential to avoid confusion and contradictory approaches. The overwhelming majority of patients with acute and chronic sprain/strain injuries to the back and neck will and do get better over time. The key is avoiding re-injury and participate in an ongoing back wellness and health maintenance program to help the spine fulfill its ongoing challenging role and function.
Dr. Biscup believes that spinal medicine and surgery has to be personalized to each patient. It is becoming more important and imperative that patients seek to educate themselves about their problems and take a more active role in selecting their health providers while actively participating in their personal care. Patients need to ask questions, challenge their physicians and therapists, and seek second or third opinions if necessary.
A trigger point injection is a local injection involving some numbing and cortisone type medication.
A Prolo or Sclero Facet Injection is a procedure where a very irritating chemical is injected around a facet joint to induce the formation of a type of scar tissue.
Radio frequency nerve ablation can be performed to destroy, or ablate, the nerve endings around a certain structure when other attempts at pain management have failed.
OTC meds for back pain (over the counter medicine) may be used to combat some of the inflammation and pain felt in the early stages of back injury.
Rest for back injury often will not be in the form of bed rest. Specifically rest would entail taking it easy and not adding extra strain to an already injured part of your back.
In the initial stages of injury ice should be used to help treat pain, inflammation and alleviate swelling.
Massage therapy including back massages, medical massages and trigger point massages help by passively stretching an injured muscle.
Back stretches and sciatica stretches help to elongate cramped or tightened muscles and bring them into a more neutral position to improve their function.
Participating in water exercises in a low or zero gravity environment allows individuals to work muscles or joints without having to support them at the same time.
"Core" Exercises help with lower back pain by building up your lower back muscles that provide support for the spine structure.
Aerobic exercise conditioning goes hand in hand muscle stretching, joint mobilization and muscle strengthening.
Spine manipulation, or more specifically chiropractic spinal manipulation is performed to forcibly mobilize the facet joints in your spine.
Medical acupuncture is an ancient medical technique used to treat a variety of painful conditions.
Gyrotonics uses a specially designed apparatus to take the patient through various motions that are designed to stretch various muscle groups.
Laser Ablation uses very high heat and energy of a laser to ablate the nerve endings and the adjacent affected soft tissue.
