How can you treat back pain and leg pain?

Answer 1

Having had 3 major spinal fusions over the past 12 years, and having dealt with spinal problems for over 20, I can tell you that the rule of thumb is that if you can walk, reduce the disk inflammation and pain, anything you can do that keeps you from surgery, try it. Spinal surgery should be the absolute last option when all other things have been tried, or you're looking at a wheelchair or loss of mobility if you don't.

As far as treatment, it depends completely on your specific injury, the affected area of the spine ((if you have pain in the leg it's likely lumbar related), and the amount of physical damage. Other factors include scar tissue buildup, disks affected (if you're experiencing daily nerve pain in you leg (middle of the back, down to the small of the back, across the waist and hip, the side of the leg and thigh and into the inside of the knee) then you're already experiencing a disk problem that needs to be corrected anyway.

MD Options

For your particular situation, having already had an injury you need to see a Neurosurgeon. While surgery may not be necessary (remember what I said about when to have it) Neurosurgeons are the best qualified to deal with the diagnosis and long term treatment plan as they deal with it daily. Your other option is a Pain Specialist, but they're only going to send you to a Neurosurgeon anyway as they can't treat what they don't fully know about, and only pictures and analysis will determine what you need.

You can also consider a Chiropractor, but they'll know you've had an injury, and will be unwilling to manipulate you without pictures.

There are 2 sites you can use for research that I've used in the past and I recommend to others - links are below.

You should also start tracking your pain with a Pain Diary. You can get those in the Publications section of the APF site or there are some other good ones on the Partners Against Pain site. It will help you down the road if you eventually require stronger meds. Normally only those in formal pain programs are required to use them, but doing it without having to shows you're committed to the fundamental ideals of the pain management process/system. It also gives a doctor documented evidence you're not just BS'ing him to get painkillers. You don't want to go there - I've endured the best and worst of the system, and trust me when I say it's not fun.

If you're not already using an anti-inflammatory drug you should be to get the disk inflammation down.

Answer 2

Rest, Painkillers, are an approach used by some.

Most studies show that maintaining a level of gentle activity results in less pain and sooner return to normal than rest. In addition, ice or heat, depending on the patient's preferences, are equally effective. Gentle stretching exercises can also be helpful for Back pain.

Painkillers are effective only to the extent that they allow the patient to maintain gentle activity.