% Of People Will Experience Back Pain At Some Time But There Are Ways To Find Relief
As people enter middle age, they are more likely to experience bouts of low back pain. In fact, according to the Harvard Special Health Report Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward, back pain affects about four in five Americans at some point in their lives and equally strikes men and women.
Age is often the culprit. Over time, the bones and joints in your lower back begin to change. Your discs tend to wear out and sometimes become fragmented. These structural alterations sometimes cause pain.
Another cause of low back pain, although it occurs less often, is a herniated disc. Sometimes, a disc pushes outside the space between the bones and compresses a nerve at the point where it branches off the spinal cord. When the sciatic nerve that leads into the buttocks and leg is affected, the pain is called sciatica.
Yet, most cases of low back pain stem from strain or sprain due to simple overuse, unaccustomed activity, excessive lifting, or an accident. In most cases the best move is to wait and see if the pain resolves on its own. If the pain does not improve after three to four days, then it’s time to see a doctor.
However, depending on the source of your back pain and its severity, you might try a few home remedies for low back pain to help ease the pain until your back returns to normal. Here are several options to consider:
Complementary therapies. Several types of complementary therapy may be helpful for relief from low back pain. These include:
Steroid Injections For Severe Back Pain
Cortisone injections are usually a temporary solution. While they can be effective at reducing inflammation and providing short-term relief, its recommended that patients try less invasive options first.
Common sprains and strains arent candidates for steroid injections. Rather, these are reserved for more extreme cases of chronic back pain like debilitating nerve pain and ruptured discs.
Ways To Manage Low Back Pain At Home
Back pain is one of the most common physical ailments. Studies show that eight in 10 Americans have back pain at some point in their lives, usually in the lower back.
Your might have sprained it while working in the yard or cleaning house. Or your back might hurt from an old sports injury or a chronic condition such as arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
Sudden or severe back pain should be checked by a doctor or a physical therapist. That also goes for pain that wonât go away.
But sometimes you can treat nagging pain and discomfort on your own.
Wilson Ray, MD, chief of spine surgery for the Department of Neurological Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says home remedies â tend to be better when they’re combined than alone.â
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Strengthen Your Back With Exercise
Exercise regularly to maintain stability, range of motion and a heathy weight. Well talk about targeted back exercise in just a bit, but its important to know that exercise of any type can help you build muscle strength.
Many people with chronic back pain see improvement with physical activity. If you sit most of the time at your job, be sure to get up every hour and move around. If your old go-to exercises arent as enjoyable because they make your back hurt, explore alternatives.
Exercises that are soft on your joints, like water aerobics and yoga, are popular exercises for people with back pain. Look for low-impact exercises offered at your local community center or gym. Your local public school may also offer open swim times or other community classes.
Ways To Manage Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is complex, and it can take a person some time to find the best pain relief methods that work for them. There are many options to try, such as hot and cold therapy, yoga, or drug treatments.
Chronic pain may develop after an injury or due to a medical issue. Healthcare professionals define pain as chronic if it lasts longer than 3 months , or beyond the normal healing time for the underlying condition or injury.
Chronic pain can affect every part of a persons life, from work and social life to sleep and mental health.
This article explores what pain management is, along with methods to ease pain and their effectiveness.
in the United States had chronic pain in 2016, while 8% had high-impact chronic pain.
The 2017 estimates that pain and diseases related to pain are the leading cause of disability worldwide, and the amount of people living with chronic pain is increasing.
Chronic pain has associations with numerous physical and mental health conditions, including:
Pain management refers to techniques to reduce and control the amount of pain a person experiences over the long term.
There are many ways to manage pain, and not all of them include taking medication.
Various physical methods can help relieve pain, including physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, massage, and acupuncture.
Hot and cold therapy
Hot and cold therapy is a common and safe technique to reduce pain.
Massage
The benefits of massage include:
Physical therapy
Acupuncture
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When To See A Doctor
People can often treat back pain with home remedies and some patience. However, a person should speak with a healthcare professional about chronic or severe back pain.
A healthcare professional may recommend physical therapy, medication, or other treatments. People with existing health conditions or who take regular medications should speak with a medical professional before trying herbal medications or supplements.
Pain Relief With Dietary Supplements
There is promising evidence that two types of dietary supplements — Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine — may help relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis. Yet more research needs to be done on their long-term safety and effectiveness.
Side effects of chondroitin are rare, but could include headache, motor uneasiness, euphoria, hives, rash, , hair loss, and breathing difficulties. People with bleeding disorders or those taking blood thinners should consult with their doctor before taking the supplement.
Side effects of glucosamine include upset stomach, drowsiness, insomnia, headache, skin reactions, sun sensitivity, and nail toughening. Some glucosamine products may be made with shellfish, and may cause adverse reaction in people with shellfish allergies.
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How To Relieve Back Pain Without Surgery
Surgery isnt always the answer for lower back pain. Many people can manage or eliminate their pain with more conservative measures. Find out more about non-surgical treatments for lower back pain.
webonJuly 31, 2020
When you need to treat your back pain, it is natural to be concerned about the options available. The good news is that there may be alternatives to spine surgery in certain instances.
Surgery isnt the answer for all back pain. A lot of people can successfully reduce or eliminate their pain with less invasive measures. Depending on the exact nature of your back pain, you may be able to manage it with physical therapy.
Learn more about the different non-surgical approaches you can take to relieve back pain.
Ways To Manage Chronic Pain Without Medication
Chronic pain pain that lasts three months or more can make it hard to go about your daily life. Whether its lower back pain or a headache that just wont quit, you may be surprised to know you might not need pain medication to feel better. According to Lara N. Zador, M.D., a pain management specialist at Henry Ford Health, there are many different pathways to overcoming chronic pain.
One of the challenges is that people dont know there are alternatives to pain medications, Zador says. Our role in pain management is to connect patients with the options that are best for their unique situation. We often consider non-medication options.
Four ways to manage chronic pain before taking pain medication include:
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Heat Therapy And Cold Therapy To Help Back Pain
Heat therapy and cold therapy are two sides of the same coin. Heat therapy uses warm water or heating pads to relieve muscle pain, while cold therapy uses ice or cold water. In certain situations, using heat therapy and cold therapy can help relieve pain and promote healing.
For new or acute pain like pain caused by a fall or other pain that shouldnt last beyond six weeks cold therapy can be a great way to reduce swelling, decrease inflammation and numb pain.
For chronic pain pain thats expected to last or has lasted for more than six weeks heat is usually the temperature of choice for soothing pain and stimulating the healing process.
You might benefit from both hot and cold therapy. For instance, after exercise, immediate cold therapy can reduce muscle soreness. After 24 hours, switching to heat therapy can help your muscles heal faster.
What Can I Do About Acute Back Or Neck Pain
The key to recovering from acute back or neck pain is restricting your activity and taking over the counter medications, because most back pain is related to muscle strain. In most cases, acute back pain will go away on its own over a period of days. Here are some tips that will help you recover:
1. Take it easy If you think you’ve hurt your back, ease up on the pressure you’re putting on your back. Many people actually have little choice in the mattertheir back pain will force them to drop to their knees or “freeze” in a bent-over position. Others will be able to function somewhat normally, but with uncomfortable pain. Contrary to popular belief, studies on acute back pain actually show that a few days of restricting your activity, and taking the appropriate over-the-counter medication, is all that many people really need to allow the strained muscles to relax and unbind. However, it is important to talk with your health care provider before taking any medication, especially if you are taking other medications or have a chronic medical condition.
2. Ice, then heat Remember this rule: “Ice first for 48 hours, then heat.” Ice and heat can alleviate local pain that comes from muscle and ligament strain. Ice slows swelling and inflammation and acts as a local anesthetic, but after 48 hours, it loses its effect. Using heat afterwards increases blood flow to the deep tissues and relaxes muscle spasms.
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When To See A Doctor For Back Pain
Most of the time, minor back pain responds well to home remedies. But sometimes, back pain is a sign of another medical condition. Seek medical care if the back pain:
- Comes on suddenly without an obvious cause.
- Is severe or unbearable.
- Lasts more than a day or two and doesnt respond to over-the-counter painkillers.
- Comes with other symptoms like fatigue or weight loss.
What kind of doctor should you see for back pain? Start with your primary care physician, who can rule out conditions that may be causing the pain, Dr. Bolash says. A pain management or spine specialist is an option for people who have severe or ongoing pain. A specialist can often work toward identifying the source of your pain and provide targeted treatment options.
Another option is to ask your doctor about seeing a spine-certified physical therapist. These therapists specialize in back pain and guide you through exercises to help relieve your specific issue.
Back pain is your bodys way of telling you somethings wrong. If the pain doesnt get better with home remedies, dont ignore it contact your doctor.
When Pain Signals A Medical Emergency
Most pain can be managed without a trip to the doctor. A bruised knee, a pulled musclethese can be treated at home with some combination of rest, ice, and heat . But certain kinds of pain indicate real danger. Following are some symptoms that require immediate attention from trained medical personnel.
Chest pain. Call 911 immediately. The worry, of course, is that you may be having a heart attack or another serious medical event such as a pulmonary embolism . Typical heart attack symptoms include heavy pressure or tightness in the chest crushing pain that goes to the neck, the jaw, the left arm, or the back and pain accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or nausea.
Pelvic pain. Severe new pelvic pain can be a sign of appendicitis or, in women, a ruptured ovarian cyst or an early ectopic pregnancy.
Sudden severe headache. Get immediate care if you get a headache that is the worst youve ever experienced, or if the pain is accompanied by fever, vomiting, stiffness, seizures, a rash, visual disturbances, trouble speaking, or weakness. You could be having a stroke or have an infection of the brain such as meningitis. Also seek medical care after any head injury, which can cause a concussion or life-threatening swelling of the brain.
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Don’t Rest An Achy Back
Doctors used to prescribe bed rest for back pain. But now we know that lying still is one of the worst things you can do. It can make back pain worse and lead to other complications. Don’t rest for more than a day or two. It’s important to get up and slowly start moving again. Exercise has been found to be one of the most effective ways to relieve back pain quickly. Try swimming, walking, or yoga.
Preventing Pain And Injury
Posture. Using correct posture and keeping your spine in alignment are the most important things you can do for your neck and back . The lower back bears most of your weight, so proper alignment of this section can prevent injury to your vertebrae, discs, and other portions of the spine. If you have back or neck pain, you may need to make adjustments to your daily standing, sitting, and sleeping habits and learn proper ways to lift and bend. Your workspace may need to be rearranged to keep your spine from slouching. Because extra pounds can make back pain worse, you should maintain a weight that is appropriate for your height and body frame.
Exercise. Regular exercise is important to prevent back pain and injury. A program of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercises will improve your overall fitness level. Research has shown that people who are physically fit are more resistant to back injuries and pain, and recover quicker when they do have injuries, than those who are less physically fit .
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Is Your Physician Prescribing This Expensive But Dangerous Drug For Back Pain
Big Pharma recently began promoting Humira, an expensive drug with a price tag of nearly 20,000 dollars a year. Humira is touted to help treat ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton, which includes the spine. It is outrageous how drug companies promote this dangerous drug for an exceedingly rare cause of low back pain one that is only responsible for less than a tenth of a tenth of one percent of low back pain! Whats more, Humira may cause severe side effects, such as:
- Immune reactions, such as lupus-like syndrome
This is just the short list Humira may have even more damaging effects on your health only to emerge later through post-marketing surveillance in exposed populations who are being forced to act as living guinea pigs.
Back Pain: Finding Solutions For Your Aching Back
Treatment of back pain has undergone a recent sea change. Experts now appreciate the central role of exercise to build muscles that support the back. This Special Health Report, Back Pain: Finding solutions for your aching back, helps you understand why back pain occurs and which treatments are most likely to help. This report describes the different types of back problems and the tailored treatments that are more likely to help specific conditions.
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What Causes Back Pain
There are many common causes of back pain, including muscle deconditioning, improper posture, muscle overuse, injury, aging and genetics. And in most cases, chronic back pain isnt caused by a single event. Its most likely a combination of many causes that contribute to the pain.
You might not know the exact cause of your back pain, and thats okay! It’s not necessary to diagnose the cause of back pain in order to treat it. Home remedies and other treatments for back pain can effectively relieve your pain regardless of the cause.
Pain Relief With Exercise
Many people in pain often avoid exercise because movement hurts too much. Yet their inactivity may actually worsen their condition.
“The human body was designed to be in motion no matter what state of health you’re in,” says Sal Fichera, an exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer, and owner of ForzaFitness.com in New York City. “If you let your body become inactive, then you will let your body degenerate.”
Muscle degeneration can lead to other problems such as diminishing bone density, depression, and a weakened heart. In contrast, regular exercise can help keep joints flexible and strong, and better able to deal with arthritic pain. Plus, physical activity promotes the release of mood-enhancing chemicals in the body that can help diminish the perception of pain.
There are three types of exercise recommended for arthritis patients. The first, flexibility workouts, involve stretches that can help enhance range of motion. The second, cardiovascular or aerobic workouts, includes walking, water exercises, and cycling. The third, strength conditioning, includes isometric or isotonic workouts.
Isometric workouts are static exercises that involve applying resistance without moving the joint. For example, if you stand up against the wall and press your hands against it, you are working out your chest muscle. On the other hand, isotonic workouts use the full range of motion. They include bicep curls and leg extensions.
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