Is There A Treatment?

At one time or another everyone is looking for some back pain relief, whether they have had chronic pain issues, an injury, or an accident. The right treatment for that back pain depends on several factors including the cause of the pain, the severity of the pain, and the health and fitness level of the sufferer. If you are suffering from severe pain, do not panic. This does not necessarily mean that you have a serious injury and no hope for back pain relief. Even a small back spasm can cause excruciating pain. On the other hand, if you are having minimal pain, but it is constant and has been around for a while, you may want to see a doctor. Education is the key to getting the best type of back pain relief for your particular condition.

Potential Solutions:

Surgery: If you are experiencing chronic back pain and have been unable to find relief this may be your doctor’s next suggestion. There are new less-invasive methods that allow for a quicker recovery. But, some studies suggest that exercise is just as effective in many cases.

Drugs: Many types of back injuries can find some back pain relief with over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. If they fail to bring relief your doctor can prescribe something stronger, but these drugs run the risk of addiction.

Chiropractors: Long regarded as “quacks” by the medical profession they are now seen as competent medical practitioners and many insurance companies now cover the cost to see them They use a combination of manipulation and massage to provide back pain relief.

Acupuncture: Research is beginning to show that many people find pain relief from all kinds of conditions, including back pain, with the ancient Chinese art of sticking needles in various parts of the body.

Massage: A deep muscle massage given by a licensed massage therapist can provide back pain relief.

Exercise: As noted above, the best way to treat and prevent back injuries and chronic pain could be through exercise. As you strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen, they are better able to support you and resist injury.

Weight loss and control: A large percentage of people who are seeking back pain relief are those who suffer from obesity as well. Losing weight puts less strain on the body and the back and is a great way to feel better all around.

This common problem can be cured with the right treatment by those who are trained and knowledgeable. Seek the opinion of at least one qualified medical professional to see which back pain relief option is best for you.

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The most common medical complaints are that of back pain. On a positive note, back pain episodes usually diminish within a few weeks if caused from muscle strain. Unfortunately, a backache can be among the most difficult and frustrating problems for patients and their doctors.

Understanding the cause of your pain is the key to proper treatment. Because back pain is sometimes difficult to treat, a better understanding of the causes of will assist patients in their recovery.

The most common causes of back pain are:

Muscle strains are the most common cause of low back pain. Patients may or may not remember the initial event that triggered their muscle spasm, but the good news is that most episodes of back pain from muscle strains fade away completely within a few weeks.

A ruptured intervertebral disc, also called a herniated disc, is another common cause of back pain.

Discogenic back pain is thought to be a common cause of low back pain. Discogenic back pain is the result of damage to the intervertabral disc, but without disc herniation. Diagnosis of discogenic back pain may require the use of a discogram.

Spinal stenosis causes back pain in the aging population. As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted, due in part to arthritis and other conditions. If the spinal canal becomes too tight, back pain can be the result.

Arthritis most commonly affects joints such as the knees and fingers. However, arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the small joints of the spine. Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement.

Spondylolisthesis causes back pain because adjacent vertebra become unstable and begins to “slip.” The most common cause of spondylolisthesis is due to degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column. If the spine becomes unstable enough, back pain can become a problem.

As stated earlier, backaches are hard to diagnose. The causes listed above are just a few of the most common reasons why people suffer with back pain. If you suffer from acute backaches, you should meet with your physician.

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Back pain is one thing most likely to elicit a twinge of sympathy from the hardest of hearts. It is estimated that every person in the world will suffer from it in his/her lifetime - mild to serious, chronic or temporary.

You could get an attack at any point along the spine, especially the lower back area which takes on the maximum weight and stress. Most common causes: strain or bruising of muscles; sprain or injury to ligaments; and spasms when the injured muscle knots up as part of the body’s attempt to immobilize it to prevent further injury. Other causes include osteoporosis, arthritis, a slipped disc, or even excessive gas, besides more serious causes like tumors, diabetes or kidney malfunctions that emerge in a doctor’s clinic.

Blame it on your Lifestyle

An important factor and one that is entirely in you hands, is lifestyle. For instance, improper postures while sitting and sleeping, and carelessness during walking, stretching or playing, especially when you are overweight, are few common causes. Grand illusions of being a Hercules incarnate and lifting heavy weights or improperly hefting them around are other frequent errors.

Bad posture is the biggest culprit. Desk jobs mean sitting for hours before computers where we unconsciously slump into odd positions. Or twist our backs frequently while trying to reach for something behind or beside us, or stretch forward too far; too fast. We also unconsciously slip into awkward positions while reading or watching TV sprawled on the bed or sofa.

Sit up

Chairs with gaps at the lower back level are deadly - avoid them. And if you think you are invulnerable because you have that perfectly ‘ergonomically’ designed chair; know this - most people unconsciously lean forward in such a way that their lower back moves away from the chair base and thus remains unsupported.

Get up and Walk around

Sitting anywhere, anyhow, for long periods means that dangerous pressure points develop along the back. The load on you back is the highest when you are sitting, less while standing and least when you are sleeping.

The golden rule is to get up and walk around every 15-20 minutes. When on a long drive, get out of the car, walk around, stretch you limbs after every two hours. While driving, the back of the car seat should not recline beyond 30 degrees and ideally the seat bottom should be tilted up slightly in front.

It’s not a high

Avoid regular use of high heels - they hamper good posture, ruin you body’s alignment and hurt the back, feet and neck. Our feet are designed to bear the entire weight of the body evenly across their surface. However, the feet and legs are placed in and unnatural position when you wear heels. Most of the pressure is transferred to the front of the foot.

Stressed Out

The modern-day stress epidemic is another factor since back pain can be psychosomatic. Stress/emotional problems both cause back pain and aggravate any existing pain. Yoga and meditation sessions are effective in such cases.

Weak stomach muscles heighten back strain and cause you pelvis to twist abnormally. Regular and proper exercise help tremendously since it keeps joints mobile, muscles conditioned and, more importantly, raises your pain threshold.

Don’t over Exercise

Doctors receive many back-pain patients who are victims of improperly-trained gym instructors or half-baked yoga teachers. Suddenly launching into heavy, unaccustomed activity is a sure recipe for disaster.

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