Physiotherapy is being widely used as a 10-day treatment, before concluding that spine surgery is a necessity. In many such cases, only Ultrasound Therapy and Interferential Therapy are administered for the entire treatment and then the patient is informed "Physiotherapy did not help, so surgery is the only option".
It should be clear to patients that in cases of severe disc compression / spondylitis /nerve impingement / stenosis, just 10 days of Electrotherapy can not do wonders.
In all such spine related problems, physical approach to treatment just acts as a catalyst to natural recovery and must be followed for a long period of time. Mechanical changes of the spine can not be corrected unless mechanical re-alignment is done. Electrotherapy must be used along with or as an alternative to medication to reduce inflammation and pain but not as a complete treatment.
Many practitioners restrict physical activity completely during the acute phase of pain, this needs a debate because total inactivity leads to consequential muscle weakness. Limitation of activity and kind of activity to be performed should be decided by professionals like Physiotherapists , who may use their Biomechanical Analysing Skills.
The fact of the matter is that most spine related cases do not need surgical intervention or even a thought of it. Although few cases which may have irreversible complications or possibility of further aggravation, need to be referred to Surgical Departments and then best left to the Surgeon's decision for further follow up.
What we want to convey is that half-hearted application of Physiotherapy (in these cases
-Electrotherapy) is a waste of time and also it promotes the idea of Physiotherapy being ineffective in such cases. As a patient, one should be aware that Physio Therapy being a medicine-free treatment may need time for providing a relatively long term or permanent recovery as opposed to many quick temporary forms of treatments.
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