Medication
Description
Physicians may prescribe or recommend one or more of various types of medications to treat a variety of back and/or neck pain problems. The medications may be taken orally or possibly injected.
Conditions Treated
Medications may be included in the treatment of almost all painful spine conditions including acute pain, chronic pain, herniated disc, disc degeneration, whiplash, facet and sacroiliac joint pain, stenosis, spondylolisthesis and others.
What Does Using Medication for Spine-Related Pain Involve?
- It is important that you inform your doctor of any medication you are taking, including over-the-counter, herbals, vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements. Some of these may have an undesirable interaction with other medications or influence their ability to help your problem.
- After your doctor has evaluated your condition, he/she may prescribe a medication. The most commonly used medications for patients with back and/or neck pain include muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID), steroids and pain medications.
- If your pain persists after physical therapy and oral medications, a steroid may be injected directly into a specific area of the spine, such as a facet joint.
- Often, medication use is combined with physical therapy and/or chiropractic care.
- During follow-up appointments with your doctor, it is important to discuss any changes in your medications.
- Sometimes laboratory tests may be ordered to monitor for potential side effects.