Peachtree Spine Physicians Defines Ideal Back Pain Candidates for Spinal Injections

Committed to helping back pain patients find pain relief, Atlanta physiatry practice Peachtree Spine identifies the types of patients who may benefit from spinal injections.

Atlanta, GA (prHWY.com) February 25, 2011 - Peachtree Spine Physicians, an independent physiatry practice headquartered in Atlanta, GA, has identified those back pain patients who are most likely to benefit from spinal injections as treatment. The injection treatment process involves the injection of steroids and a local anesthetic directly to the source of the pain through x-ray guidance to confirm the placement of the needle, and ultimately provides reduced inflammation and back pain relief.

A wide range of treatments are available for people suffering from back pain, from oral pain medications to surgical procedures. Injections are considered to be a conservative treatment option, and a less invasive alternative to surgery. The specific pain may present itself in different areas and intensities - individuals may have weakness in the lower back and legs, or the neck and arms, for example - but Peachtree Spine has determined that there are several factors that are generally consistent for ideal injection candidates.

"These individuals have not responded to, or have only found minimal relief from, pain medications such as Flexeril or Vicodin - orally active narcotic analgesics," explained Dr. Jeffrey S. Grossman, M.D., physiatrist with Peachtree Spine Physicians. "For those whose back pain has only been present for approximately 1 week, the pain is so severe that they are unable to perform exercises and movements as would be instructed by a physical therapist or chiropractor. For those whose pain has persisted for an extended period of time, they may have already sought physical therapy and chiropractic treatments, but have not benefited from such treatment. Patients often have decreased reflexes or weakness in their arms or legs as well."

Dr. Grossman commented that an MRI is often required to verify a disk herniation or other spinal conditions, allowing physicians to pinpoint the cause of pain, and thus the location where the injection needs to be administered. In many instances, other injections such as facet injections and/or sacroiliac injections can be performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

For the types of back pain patients indicated, spinal injections can prove to be very successful in alleviating their pain, especially during an acute episode of pain. Further, the injections can provide sufficient pain relief to allow individuals to perform physical therapy and rehabilitative exercises to improve physical condition and prevent possible further injury. People experiencing the type of aforementioned back pain should consult a physiatrist.


About Peachtree Spine Physicians
Peachtree Spine Physicians is an independent Physiatry practice with a focus on treating back pain and back and neck disorders. Through the use of conservative, non-surgical back treatments including interventional spinal procedures such as fluoroscopically guided injections, the medical doctors at Peachtree Spine seek to reduce pain and restore the functionality and quality of each patient's life. Dedicated to serving the Atlanta metro area, Peachtree Spine has a primary location on Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Atlanta as well as five additional offices in Decatur, Gwinnett, Johns Creek, Marietta and South Atlanta. For more information, please call 404-843-3323 or visit www.peachtreespine.com.

###

Tag Words: back pain

Categories: Medical

Link To This Press Release:

URL HTML Code