For millions of Americans, there may be no bigger issue facing their health and wellness than finding a treatment for chronic back pain. As we age, it’s normal to experience some aches and pains in our back or joints. However, chronic back pain can seriously impact a person’s ability to relax, work, or perform normal everyday tasks. To help prospective patients who experience back pain that is affecting their quality of life, the board-certified neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center wanted to shed some light on one of the most common and effective methods of treating this issue, epidural injections.

The goal of epidural injection treatments is to treat pain by reducing inflammation and swelling of the soft tissues (including the nerve roots) and the joints of the spine. The most common type of epidural injection that we administer combines an anti-inflammatory steroid with an anesthetic, however different types of injections can be used to address different areas of the spine. Typically, the pain-killing effect begins to take hold a few days after treatment and the results can last for weeks to months or even longer in some cases.

What Epidural Injections Can Do:

When performed at Georgia Brain & Spine Center, epidural injections can be an excellent way to alleviate back pain and spinal discomfort. We use epidural injections to treat symptoms of common spinal conditions including arthritis, herniated discs, and sciatica. For some patients, epidural injections can safely replace pain-killing medications. Additionally, we may use epidural injections for diagnostic purposes in some patients. Injections made into an area can help define a specific portion of the spine where a patient’s pain originates from.

What Epidural Injections Cannot Do:

Epidural injections cannot be used as a substitute for certain more invasive spinal procedures. For instance, the results achieved by spinal fusion surgery or a decompression laminectomy cannot be replicated by utilizing these anti-inflammatory, pain-killing injections. Also, epidural injections cannot be administered too often. We limit epidural injections to between 1-3 treatments per year, as administering them too often can cause the vertebrae and spinal muscles to weaken over time.

We perform epidural injections as outpatient procedures, and patients are able to return to the comfort of their own home once the treatment has concluded. Bringing our patients relief from their back pain is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. Don’t forget to follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more..

A herniated disc is one of the more common spinal conditions for adults in the US. However, even with this knowledge, many people don’t know very much about herniated discs and what causes them to occur. The neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center strongly believe that understanding spinal conditions is critically important to help patients who may someday experience them. That’s why we wanted to discuss herniated discs, what may cause them to occur, and potential treatment options.

The bones (or vertebrae) of the spine are cushioned by small, round discs that are located between each individual vertebra. These discs act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Each disc consists of a soft inner portion as well as a tough outer ring. A herniated disc (sometimes referred to as a bulged, slipped, or ruptured disc) occurs when the softer inner portion of the disc protrudes through the tougher outer ring. This rupture then causes the disc to put pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pain that can be severe. Although a herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine (including the neck), they are most common in the lower back area.

A herniated disc can be caused by several different things. For some people, they may occur naturally as a result of aging. In some cases, a certain motion or physical activity like lifting something too heavy can be the cause. Accidents including falls or motor vehicle accidents can cause a disc to become ruptured. Certain risk factors like being overweight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle can also potentially contribute to herniated discs. Additionally, a herniated disc can be a sign of degenerative disc disease in some people.

The first step towards treating a herniated disc is getting a proper diagnosis. This is something our experienced brain and spine experts can do here in our office. Once a diagnosis is made, we will discuss all the available treatment options. This includes non-surgical options including physical therapy, pain-killing injections, or medicines like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for people with more moderate pain or discomfort. In cases where the pain is more severe, may benefit from a spinal surgery procedure to provide relief.

If you or a loved one has experienced a herniated disc, there’s no reason to let debilitating pain disrupt your quality of life. The neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center have many years of experience in diagnosing and treating spinal conditions like herniated discs and will do everything in our power to ease your discomfort and get you feeling your best again. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more.

Although back pain is incredibly common, it’s a fact that back pain can affect different people in different ways. For some people, back pain can be a temporary frustration that is only present during or following physical activity. For others, it can be an ever-present detriment to their comfort and quality of life. Chronic back pain can be a result of an underlying spinal condition like spinal stenosis or arthritis of the spine or it can simply be a product of natural aging. To help our patients gain a better understanding of back pain and who it specifically affects, our board-certified neurosurgeons have put together some statistics on the subject.

General Statistics

• Lower back pain is the most common cause of disability in the US.
• Experts estimate that as much as 80% of adults in the US will experience regular back pain at some time in their lives.
• In a study conducted by the American Physical Therapy Association, 39% of responders said that back pain affects their ability to conduct daily tasks and 37% said that their back pain affects their ability to sleep.

Age Statistics

• Although back pain typically originates for people between the ages of 30 and 50, it can occur at any time.
• Back pain is more common for people above the age of 65, especially those who experience bone loss due to osteoporosis.

Gender Statistics

• Back pain is slightly more common for women in the US than men.
• Roughly 30% of American women experience regular back pain, compared to roughly 26% of all men.
• This rate nearly doubles for pregnant women.

Productivity Statistics

• On average, Americans spend roughly $50 billion annually on treatments for back pain and related conditions.
• Indirect annual costs including lost productivity and wages as well as legal and insurance fees exceeds $100 billion annually.
• 54% of Americans who experience chronic back pain spend the majority of their workday sitting down, often in workstations that are not ergonomically friendly.

Here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center, we pride ourselves on helping our patients locate the root cause of their back pain and working with them to develop treatment plans that work. Our neurosurgeons perform a wide variety of treatments for chronic back pain including back surgery, minimally invasive spinal treatments, and non-surgical solutions. If you would like more information on the spinal treatments that we perform, or if you would like a second opinion on a previous diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today with Dr. Elias Dagnew or Dr. Michael Hartman. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, practice updates, blog posts, and more.