TreatingPain.com Offers Non-Surgical Treatments for Back and Spinal Pain Sufferers

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For the estimated 100 million Americans suffering from chronic unremitting back pain -- which according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine is more people suffering than those with diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined¹ -- the idea that pain relief can be achieved at all, let alone without traditional and costly spinal surgery with prolonged recovery might seem too good to be true.  Is there hope?  Absolutely!

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"Patients with back and spine pain who do not want surgery absolutely do have options," said Dr. Douglas Wisor of National Spine & Pain Centers, the nation's leading practice specializing in Interventional Pain Management (IPM).  IPM focuses on non-surgical solutions for acute and chronic pain.  It is a board-certified, fellowship-trained specialty that millions of people would choose, but few know exist, which is why an informational website like TreatingPain.com is so important.

Unaware of the breadth of non-surgical options, most people suffering from back pain default to traditional open back surgery or the more recently touted laser spine surgery as their first and only treatment alternative. "Despite the rise in popularity of laser spine surgery in the lay public, most surgical spinal experts at this time have simply not embraced this unproven technique. Until a significant number of spine experts adopt it and long-term studies demonstrate its safety, benefits, and clinical effectiveness, I would be reluctant to endorse laser interventions as a first line option," added Dr. Wisor.

In fact, Dr. Roger Chou, a physician at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland who is the director of the American Pain Society's clinical guidelines program, states that "even in studies showing some benefit, the benefit is small and doesn't last that long. Nerve endings can regenerate over time. It's difficult to find a clinical basis for Laser Spine's procedures. It sounds like a shotgun approach," ² he said.

Yet despite the paucity of clinical evidence, Americans desperate to get pain relief will go to drastic measures to reduce their pain. David Armstrong of Bloomberg News reports, "Some patients, desperate for pain relief and a short recovery period, say they've tapped retirement accounts or taken out second mortgages to pay Laser Spine. They're not always satisfied with the results." ³ 

Instead of reflexively opting for laser surgery, which is typically not covered by traditional insurance and therefore can be costly with significant recovery periods, patients in pain should first tap expert educational resources such as TreatingPain.com for information.

National Spine & Pain Centers is one of the nation's fastest growing practices because of its comprehensive expertise in non-surgical treatment alternatives, which range from the traditional interventions, such as epidural injections, to more cutting-edge yet less costly regenerative treatments such as Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, Prolotherapy, and Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy.

"There's no question; first find a board-certified pain management specialist who can accurately diagnose your chronic pain," said Dr. Les Zuckerman, Chief Medical Officer of National Spine & Pain Centers. "Then, understand all of the treatment options available to you and seek out a regimen that can resolve your pain without surgery."

While that sounds counter-intuitive, there is hope that treatments can shift from management to a more curative approach. "That's where innovation comes in," says Dr. Mayo Friedlis, an award-winning physician at National Spine & Pain Centers. "We are tirelessly evaluating and integrating new diagnostic tools and treatments, and choosing only those with the most substantiated results to include in our full offering of non-surgical treatment services. After extensive consideration, our suite of advanced regenerative therapies has been expanded to offer patients more viable options."

About National Spine & Pain Centers

National Spine & Pain Centers (NSPC) is the leader in non-surgical pain management, offering safe and effective treatments for people suffering from a variety of acute and chronic spinal conditions who do not want to undergo any kind of surgery. With more than 40 top pain doctors on staff each using innovative diagnostic procedures and developing personalized treatment regimens, patients finally have alternatives to open and laser back and neck surgeries. NSPC boasts the most comprehensive range of non-surgical pain management services available, including regenerative therapies, and is rapidly expanding with over 30 centers across the Mid-Atlantic region. Its core mission is to treat pain non-surgically and restore quality of life for each and every one of its patients. For more information, visit http://www.treatingpain.com.

1. "AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain," American Academy of Pain Medicine, 2011, on the AAPM website, http://www.painmed.org/patientcenter/facts_on_pain.aspx, accessed on July 1, 2013.

2. "OHSU Study: One-fifth of spine surgery patients develop PTSD symptoms," Oregon Health & Science University press release, September 27, 2012, on the OHSU website, http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2012/09-27-spine-ptsd-release.cfm, accessed on July 2, 2013.

3. "Laser Spine Surgery More Profitable Than Google Sees Complaints," Bloomberg News article, May 4, 2011, on the Bloomberg website, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/laser-spine-surgery-more-profitable-than-google-sees-surge-in-complaints.html, accessed on July 5, 2013.

Media Contact:
Matty Crescenzo
(703) 914-8000  x3373
Email
http://www.treatingpain.com

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SOURCE National Spine & Pain Centers