Back Pain Spinal Care

Non-Invasive Treatment

Many non-invasive treatments can bring relief to those experiencing chronic back pain, but finding the right solution(s) often involves a frustrating degree of trial and error.



If you’ve already seen a primary care doctor, we recommend seeing a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) doctor who specializes in managing back pain. Included Health can match you with a high-quality provider who meets your needs, is in-network, and located nearby.

Depending on the nature of your pain, they may recommend:

Physical therapy: Focused on improving flexibility, strength and posture. Consulting with multiple physical therapists can be critical, as different practitioners take very different approaches.



Medication: Pain relievers and/or muscle relaxants are often recommended in combination with other treatment options.



Exercise: Staying active can be challenging, but routine physical activity is often one of the most effective ways to gradually resolve chronic pain.



Alternative treatments: A wide range of other approaches (e.g. massage, meditation, spinal manipulation, acupuncture, nerve stimulation)

Multi-Disciplinary Programs

Back pain is taxing, both mentally and physically. Many people need a combination of treatment approaches in order to resolve their pain. As a result, people who have tried every individual treatment without relief often find success with multidisciplinary treatment programs.

Multidisciplinary pain programs typically involve a team of highly specialized providers and employ a combination of physical activity, medical treatment, and psychological support over several months.



Included Health can help you find a formal multidisciplinary pain treatment program nearby, or connect you with multiple individual specialists if you’d prefer to try this sort of approach independently.

Emerging Treatments

Pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is a new, evidence-based treatment that focuses on rewiring the pain pathways in your brain. For those navigating the complexities of chronic back pain, PRT offers a potentially transformative approach worth exploring.



In a recent clinical trial, 66% of PRT participants reported being completely or nearly pain-free after 4 weeks of therapy compared to only 20% of those who didn’t take part.



To learn more about this new treatment and whether you might be a good candidate for it:

Listen to Tell Me About Your Pain, a podcast by two leading experts

Visit the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center’s website, which includes a national directory of certified PRT practitioners

Procedural Interventions

If you’ve tried multiple conservative treatment options without pain relief, it may be worth considering a procedural intervention. Spinal procedures include injections, implanted nerve stimulators, radio frequency ablation, and surgery. 



Injections and other minimally invasive procedures for back pain are typically performed by physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors, while spine surgeries are performed by both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. 



Consulting with a PM&R doctor is usually the best first step. They can perform many different treatments and evaluate whether seeing a spine surgeon is warranted. 



Included Health can match you with a high-quality PM&R doctor or spine surgeon who meets your needs, is in-network, and located nearby. If your local providers suggest a surgical procedure, we recommend also seeking an online second medical opinion from a top national specialist — at no cost to you.