Key Takeaways:
- Non-surgical pain management may reduce chronic pain, restore function and help some patients delay or avoid surgery.
- Treatment options may include physical therapy, medication, injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulation.
- Targeted treatments can also help identify the source of pain and guide future care decisions.
- Surgery may still be necessary for serious structural damage, instability or progressive neurological symptoms.
When chronic back pain, neck pain or joint pain begins interfering with everyday activities, surgery may seem like the only viable solution. But many painful conditions can be managed effectively with conservative care or minimally invasive pain treatments before becoming intractable and surgery becomes inevitable.
Pain management doctors can identify the source of your discomfort and devise an individualized treatment plan to reduce discomfort, restore function and possibly delay or avoid surgery.
What Is Non-Surgical Pain Management?
Non-surgical pain management uses conservative and minimally invasive treatments to alleviate symptoms without resorting to surgery. An effective pain management plan addresses both symptoms and their source.
Patients seeking non-invasive pain treatments for conditions such as:
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck pain
- Sciatica
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Joint and arthritis pain
- Shoulder pain
- View more pain conditions here
as well as neuropathy may be symptoms of spinal stenosis; Arthritis and joint pain; neuropathy; Sacroiliac joint pain and/or knee, hip or shoulder pain can also result in symptoms similar to what one would find from injury or surgery.
Our pain management specialists can assess your symptoms, medical history, previous treatments and imaging before suggesting the most appropriate next step.
How Can Pain Management Affect or Postpone Surgery?
Pain management can assist in several ways. It may reduce inflammation, interrupt pain signals, improve mobility or make physical therapy more tolerable for patients. By increasing comfort while strengthening muscles that support an injured area, they may be able to manage their condition without immediate surgery.
Non-invasive treatments may also provide valuable diagnostic information. For instance, targeted injections or nerve blocks may help pinpoint which joint or nerve is causing pain. This could avoid unnecessary treatment plans while providing guidance for future care.
Pain relief may last long enough to postpone surgery for months or even years; in other instances, patients may improve so much that surgery no longer needs to take place at all.
Non-Surgical Pain Treatment Options
An effective plan to treat chronic pain may incorporate several of the options below. You can also check out our suite of non-surgical pain treatments right here.
Physical Therapy & Activity Modification
Physical therapy can provide benefits that include strengthening, flexibility, posture and mobility enhancements. A therapist may also demonstrate safer methods for performing daily activities while minimizing painful movements that exacerbate an already sensitive area.
Medication Management
Prescription or nonprescription medication may help alleviate inflammation, muscle spasms, or nerve pain in some individuals. Medication should be prescribed and managed based on each individual patient’s health status, medical history and any treatments in place.
Epidural Steroid Injections
An epidural steroid injection provides anti-inflammatory medication directly into irritated spinal nerves, often recommended to address sciatica, spinal stenosis or herniated disc pain. Reducing pain and inflammation may allow patients to participate more actively in physical therapy sessions.
Joint Injections
Injectable treatments may provide relief for arthritis-related symptoms in various joints such as knees, hips, shoulders and spines. Furthermore, this form of therapy may also help determine which joint is causing issues for each individual person experiencing them.
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block involves using medication to temporarily reduce pain signals from a targeted nerve or group of nerves. It may be used either as an interventional treatment or diagnostic measure before moving on with another pain management procedure.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation employs controlled heat to target nerves carrying pain signals, and may provide longer-lasting relief from arthritis-related neck, back, or joint discomfort.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation should be considered by patients experiencing persistent nerve pain, chronic back or leg discomfort or postoperative discomfort. The system employs gentle electrical impulses to modify pain signals before they reach the brain.
When Should Surgery be Considered?
Pain management alone cannot always prevent surgery. Surgery may become necessary if an injury or condition causes serious instability, structural damage, progressive weakness or neurological dysfunction that require medical intervention to resolve.
Even when surgery is recommended, pain management may provide relief during preparation and even after recovery.
When Should You Seek Medical Advice Regarding Pain Management?
Consider scheduling an evaluation for pain when symptoms:
- Lasts longer than anticipated
- Interferes with sleep, work or daily activities
- Does not improve with rest and basic conservative care
- Causes numbness, tingling or radiating discomfort
- Requires increasingly frequent medication
Early treatment could provide more non-invasive options and could prevent pain from worsening over time.
Find Non-Surgical Pain Treatment Options at Dallas Pain Institute
If chronic pain is hindering your mobility and quality of life, surgery may not be your only solution. At Dallas Pain Institute we offer personalized pain management plans with minimally invasive solutions for patients in North Texas.
Reach out to Dallas Pain Institute now in Rowlett, Sherman or Greenville, TX to arrange for an assessment at one of our convenient locations!
- Rowlett, TX: 7700 Lakeview Pkwy, Suite 300A, Rowlett, TX 75088 | (469) 653-0222
- Sherman, TX: 1001 E Sara Swamy Dr., Suite 220, Sherman, TX 75090 | (903) 892-1999
- Greenville, TX: 4101 Wesley Street, Suite K, Greenville, TX 75401 | (469) 653-0222
Referral and coverage requirements vary by insurance plan. The office can help verify requirements before scheduling. Review the current insurance plans page or contact the clinic for assistance.
Scheduling note
A consultation is an evaluation, not a guarantee that a particular medication, procedure, or surgery will be recommended. Treatment decisions are individualized after review of the diagnosis, expected benefit, alternatives, and risks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pain Management and Surgery
Q: Can a pain management doctor help eliminate the need for surgery?
A: Yes. In certain instances, pain management treatments may reduce symptoms and improve function enough to postpone or even avoid surgery altogether. Results will depend on the cause and severity of your condition.
Q: What can I try before considering back surgery?
A: Physical therapy, medication, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation or spinal cord stimulation could all be appropriate treatments depending on your diagnosis. A pain management specialist may suggest treatment options tailored specifically for you based on their evaluation of the situation.
Q: How long do pain management injections last?
A: Relief may last from days to months, depending on the type of injection used, condition being treated and individual response. Not every patient experiences identical outcomes.
Q: Can radiofrequency ablation serve as an alternative to surgery?
A: Radiofrequency ablation may provide a non-surgical solution to chronic neck, back, or joint pain. A diagnostic nerve block may be performed prior to radiofrequency ablation to ascertain whether nerves targeted for ablation are indeed the source of discomfort.
Q: Should I first visit a pain management doctor?
A: An evaluation for pain management may be helpful when surgery isn’t an immediate necessity and conservative treatment options have yet to be fully explored. If there is progressive nerve damage or another serious condition present, however, surgical consultation may still be required.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. Do not delay emergency care because of information on this page. Individual treatment recommendations and outcomes vary.