Chronic back pain can take over your life, robbing you of your ability to engage in work and play, keeping you from enjoying time with your friends and family members, and taking a toll on your mental and emotional health. Finding the source of the pain can help you to face what you’re up against: When you have a proper diagnosis and know what your treatment options are, you can make a plan to get back your life. This can be a tremendous help in avoiding many of chronic back pain’s most debilitating effects—for some patients, the sense of hopelessness or loss of control that can come with constant pain can become almost worse than the pain itself.
If you’re traveling to the Spine Institute Northwest from Canada, it may be a good idea to ask extra questions that can help you manage your pain both before and after your procedure. After all, you’ll only actually be in the U.S. for a couple of days; our outpatient procedures mean that most of your recovery will take place at home. Still, you can always reach out to us with questions like these:
Will you be able to help me manage my existing pain as we work on treating the underlying issue?
While your course of treatment is intended to address the root cause of your pain, in some cases living with your existing pain—even while you’re getting ready to travel to the Spine Institute Northwest—can be overwhelming. Find out what you can do in the meantime that can help ease your suffering.
Are there any pain treatment options I shouldn’t try?
What works to treat your pain depends on a large number of variables in addition to its specific cause; elements like your age, weight, medical history, and other medical issues can mean that certain therapies are indicated while others are off the table. Some of the most basic treatments that are often used for back pain—for example, gentle yoga—may actually do you more harm than good. Be proactive when it comes to getting advice both on what you can do to relieve your pain pre-treatment and what will help aid your recovery post-treatment.
Am I a candidate for a prescription pain medication?
In general, prescription painkillers are not ideal as a first course of action. In addition to having the potential for addiction, if the medication too effectively masks your pain you may not realize that its nature has changed. After you leave the Spine Institute Northwest, you may be given a prescription for pain medication that you can fill once you’re back home. In other cases, a controlled course of over-the-counter pain medication will be sufficient to manage any post-operative pain. Still, not everyone is a candidate for prescription-level pain relief, especially if you have other health issues or are taking other medications that could cause an interaction.
Are you curious about traveling to the Spine Institute Northwest? We have helped Canadian patients from across the provinces find relief from chronic back pain. Call us at 888-712-0318 to learn more!