Warning Signs & Symptoms

Unlike acute back pain, which typically gets better within a few days or weeks with little or no treatment, chronic back pain persists longer than the expected healing time for the identified cause of pain or lasts after the identified cause of pain has been treated.

Treatment/Procedures

Patients can treat chronic back pain with a variety of procedures, including:

• Lumbar Laminectomy
• Anterior Cervical Fusion
• Lumbar Discectomy

Prevention

Practicing safe bending and lifting techniques, doing strengthening and stretching exercises for the muscles that support the back, using good posture and keeping a healthy weight can help prevent chronic back pain.

Rehabilitation

If surgery is done to correct chronic back pain, the rehabilitation can vary among patients. Many surgeons will prescribe outpatient physical therapy within three weeks after surgery, which can last 6-8 weeks or more. Full recovery can range between four months to one year. At first, therapy is used for controlling pain and inflammation, with the ultimate goal of returning to daily activities, exercise and normal range of motion.