There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to dealing with lower back pain. That is a good thing! Some people will respond to one form of treatment, and others will respond to something altogether different. The prudent practitioner expands his/her capabilities so that more people can be helped.
I recently read an article that talked about options for lower back pain. In it, the author talked about alternative treatment methods for dealing with lower back pain. She listed massage, medications, and chiropractic as potentially helpful. She should have included acupuncture as well. They also talked about implanting electrodes along the spinal chord in order to numb the area with electrical stimulation.
This is a viable option, but understand that often the electrodes don't even have to be surgically placed. Many people respond to simple TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A TENS unit is a simple battery powered device that is worn on the belt, with electrical wires that run to pads that are stuck to the skin over the area of pain. For about $100.00, many find this very helpful. With a TENS unit, you don't run the risk associated with surgeries, such as infection, allergic reactions, rejections, stroke, CV events, etc. EVERY SURGERY IS RISKY! And in spite of what you might think, surgery doesn't cure or correct your spinal condition, it simply helps to manage it. Lower back pain is usually caused by malfunctioning joints in the lower back, muscle tightness or spasm, and nerve irritation, possibly due to disk degeneration or bulging. No electrical current will cure these problems, though it might help to ease the pain associated with them.
Before you try ANY surgery, try everything else. Surgery is irreversible and risky, and should be your last resort for treatment of back pain.
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