When Back Pain Won't Resolve: Advanced Treatment Options for Northwest Indiana and Chicago Patients

Everyone experiences occasional back pain. A long day of yardwork, a weekend spent helping friends move, or even too much time hunched over a computer can lead to a flare-up of back pain. 

But when back pain lingers and doesn’t get better, it may be time to give some thought to advanced treatment options, like the services available from Dr. Mohammad S. Shukairy. 

So, when is the right time to begin exploring advanced spine interventions?

Understanding the mental health effects of back pain

We all know the physical effects of back pain, including the aching, sore, and stiff sensations that follow a back strain or injury. But back pain can also have a direct effect on your mental health, especially if it lingers for long periods. 

When your back hurts, the last thing you want to do is go out and get moving. It’s easy to slip into a sedentary lifestyle, which is a big risk factor for depression. While rest can be good for spine issues, too much downtime can lead to mood disruption. 

People who live with ongoing back pain for a long time can also begin to feel hopeless about the future. This can color all of your thoughts as well as your interactions with others. 

Resolving back pain can help you get back into healthy routines and can lessen depression and other mental health issues. 

Have you tried conservative treatment methods?

Faced with back pain, many people begin by trying over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications combined with a period of rest. That can be an effective way to treat minor muscle strains and overexertion. 

But self-care methods like heat and icing, gentle stretching, and modifying your daily activities are unlikely to make a big difference if you have structural problems like a slipped disc or spinal stenosis. 

If you’ve tried to find lasting relief through conservative treatments but your back pain persists, it may be time to look into spine surgery as a lasting solution. 

Has your back pain become impossible to ignore?

Some forms of back pain come and go or are mild enough that you can put it to the back of your mind while you go through your daily routines. But when back pain worsens, it can become all you think about. 

If back pain is impossible to ignore, finding lasting relief should become your top priority. Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong, and you should listen and respond to those messages to preserve spinal health. 

What kinds of advanced treatments can help with back pain?

When you partner with Dr. Shukairy for spine care, you have access to the very latest advancements in spine surgery. People travel from the greater Chicago area as well as northwest Indiana to see Dr. Shukairy and take advantage of his skill and expertise. 

Endoscopic spine surgery is an area of specialty for Dr. Shukairy. This minimally invasive approach can bring less time under anesthesia, faster recovery times, and improved outcomes. 

Some of the issues that bring people in for care include: 

Disc degeneration 

• Traumatic injury 
• Scoliosis 
• Spinal fractures
• Tumors
• Arthritis 

No matter how advanced your spine needs may be, we have a solution that can help. 

When you’re ready to explore advanced spine treatment in more detail, reach out to our office online or over the phone to set up a visit. You can be seen at an office location in Highland, Crown Point, Hobart, or Merrillville, Indiana.