Non-Surgical Spine Treatments

At Texas Minimally Invasive Spine, we firmly believe that surgery for spinal conditions is always a last resort. We recommend surgical intervention only after all nonsurgical therapies have been exhausted without results, or if permanent neurological damage is imminent without surgery.

Even though we are a surgical practice, we send more patients for nonsurgical treatments than we recommend for surgery, year after year, in keeping with our core principles of conservative care. The human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself if given the chance, and our goal is to support that natural healing process.

Almost all patients presenting with back or neck pain are candidates for non-surgical treatments initially. Unless you are experiencing a medical emergency (such as severe trauma, progressive weakness, or loss of bowel/bladder control), a course of conservative therapy is the standard of care.

Even if you have been told you need surgery, exploring non-surgical options or optimizing your physical condition prior to surgery can significantly improve your overall outcomes.

The timeline for relief with non-surgical treatments varies depending on the specific therapy and your body's healing response. Medications and spinal injections can provide relief within days, while the benefits of physical therapy, bracing, and activity modification take several weeks to fully realize.

The ultimate goal of conservative care is not just temporary pain relief, but equipping you with the physical conditioning and knowledge to manage your spine health independently and avoid future flare-ups. We typically re-evaluate your progress after 6 to 8 weeks of conservative management.

Activity Restrictions

Taking a break from activities that exacerbate your condition for 4-6 weeks is crucial. We often recommend avoiding bending, twisting, or lifting over 10-20 pounds. Studies show over 80% of lumbar disc herniation patients improve within 6 weeks with activity restrictions and medical management alone.

Medications

We may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for arthritis and joint inflammation, short-term steroidal anti-inflammatories (like a Medrol Dosepac) for severe pain, or muscle relaxants for radiating pain caused by muscle spasms. Narcotic analgesics are strictly a last resort.

External Orthoses (Braces)

Cervical collars and thoracic or lumbar braces can be instrumental in avoiding surgery for patients with a degree of spinal instability. We typically advise using a brace during upright activities for 2-3 months to prevent muscle deconditioning.

Physical Therapy

Passive physical therapy (heat, traction, massage) helps stretch and relax muscles while widening neural foramina. It is highly successful for cervical disc herniations. Active physical therapy focuses on muscle strengthening for patients with persistent weakness.

Spinal Injections

Epidural injections place steroid/analgesic compounds near a nerve root to decrease inflammation, while facet injections target arthritic joints. These injections control pain while the body heals over 6-8 weeks and also serve as a diagnostic tool to pinpoint the exact pain generator.