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Well, I failed physical therapy for my back problem. The drugs I'm taking don't work. What else can I do? I can't live with this pain the rest of my life.

Without knowing the specifics of your situation, it's difficult to predict or advise you on the next step. It's probably safe to say that you have not failed anything. It's more likely that your pain just didn't respond to the treatment you received.

Physical therapy has been shown helpful for chronic low back pain (LBP). But there are many different types of therapy. Not all work for every patient. Finding the right treatment for each person can be a challenge. It may take some time and may even require changing therapists.

Many studies show that chronic back pain sufferers can really benefit from a cognitive-behavioral approach in physical therapy treatment. This means that patients are educated about their spine, including basic anatomy and spine mechanics.

Wrong beliefs about the spine and about the cause of back pain are challenged and corrected. Patients learn how to manage their pain and improve their function. With chronic pain, the goal is no longer cure. Instead, self-help is the focus. The goal is to improve function and decrease disability while living with the pain.

In some cases, there are other treatment options. Epidural injections, spinal implants, and decompressive surgery are common procedures used. The type of operation needed depends on the underlying problem.

It's probably a good idea to make an appointment with your treating physician and review your case. Provide him or her with a timeline of what happened, what type of treatment you've had, and when it took place. Review the results of each treatment method. And then ask for options to consider as your next step.

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