Should I See A Chiropractor For My Back Pain
Spinal manipulation is used by chiropractors and osteopathic physicians to treat low back pain in selected patients. Spinal manipulation applies hand pressure to areas of the low back to relax irritated muscle and lessen the intensity of the pain.
Traction, using pulleys and weights to lengthen and stretch the spine can result in temporary relief. Both techniques will not treat any underlying causes of back pain, but rather offer a temporary relief from lower back pain.
Bonus Tip: Soothe The Pain With Cold And/or Hot
Don’t underestimate the pain reduction of simply applying cold packs and/or hot packs to help reduce your lower back pain.
- Cold therapy helps reduce inflammation and pain. Some examples include wrapping ice in a cloth, a pack of frozen peas from the freezer, or a cold gel pack. Always keep at least one layer between your skin and the ice/cold pack.
- Heat therapy helps improve blood flow, relaxation, and pain relief. Heat therapy can come in many forms. It’s best to try several to find what works best for you. Taking a warm bath or shower, soaking in a hot tub, or using a heating pad or heat wrap are all ways to bring warmth to your lower back.
Whether applying ice or a heat pack, limit applications to 15 or 20 minutes with at least 2 hours of rest in between to protect your skin. Never sleep with a heating pad or frozen pack as this can lead to permanent skin damage.
Hopefully these overlooked remedies can help you try some new approaches to better manage your lower back pain and find lasting relief.
Finding Lower Back Pain Relief
Nearly everyone will experience some form of back pain in his or her lifetime. The low back is the area behind the belly from the rib cage to the pelvis and is also called the lumbar region. Back pain is a major cause of missed work. Low back pain usually resolves on its own and is commonly the result of a strain injury. There are many treatments for low back pain.
At Risk for Lower Back Pain?
Low back pain can start in a person’s early twenties and continue on throughout adulthood. Studies have shown that up to 80% of the general population are affected by low back pain at some time during their lives. Learn to prevent lower back pain by knowing what activities could be putting you at risk.
Common Causes of Low Back Pain
- Manual materials handling
- Twisting of the trunk
- Bending the trunk to the side
- Excessive reaching
- Extreme tallness
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Body Vision It9550 Deluxe Inversion Table
There is no better option than the Body vision deluxe inversion table in the market when it comes to inversion therapy tables. The stunning outlook and exclusive upholstery of this inversion table contribute to making it an all-rounder table. Now you can adjust or remove the headrest according to your comfort and preference.
The hard and sturdy construction of this table is also contributive to declaring it as one of the best inversion tables on our list. In addition to this, the size is just right to fix in the smallest of spaces. You can adjust or remove the lumbar support to keep yourself safe from muscle soreness.
Furthermore, the sur-lock and ankle supports are exceptionally durable. And the four adjustable high-density foam leg rollers are also there to support and prevent calf pinching. With exercise and fitness options and multiple color options, this is just the product for you.
Pros
Lower Back Stretches To Reduce Pain And Build Strength
Lower back pain is a fairly common health concern, as so many things can cause it.
In some cases, it might be a symptom of an underlying condition, like kidney stones or acute pancreatitis. Other times, its simply a side effect of a sedentary lifestyle or repetitive motions.
While stretching isnt a remedy for all lower back pain, in many instances, it can provide relief. If youve been living with some mild discomfort or stiffness, these seven stretches may help reduce the pain and strengthen the muscles in your lower back.
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Innova Health Itm4800 Advanced Heat And Massage Inversion Table
Review
Having an inversion table with heating and vibration features can be a great point in reducing or curing your sciatica or back pain. It will not only give you a therapeutic massage but will fix your posture to a great scale. Added lumbar pad is there to provide maximum back support.
An adjustable pin system with six significant positions is there to keep you protected and safe during multiple inverted positions. You can adjust the headrest and backrest according to your preferences.
With zero worries, more than 300lbs weight-bearing capacity will let you position yourself on this table. What else do you need to listen to to get convinced?
Pros
Lumbar Side Glide In Standing
If the press up with hips off center failed to offer significant relief or centralize your symptoms, you should then try the lumbar side glide exercise.
This exercise is done standing about a foot from a wall with your painful side away from the wall. Lean your shoulder against the wall with your elbow tucked into your ribs, and slowly push your pelvis underneath your ribcage.
Perform 10 repetitions of the side glide, and watch for changes in your pain. If your pain continues or fails to centralize, try the next exercise: the lumbar flexion rotation stretch.
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What Exactly Is The Lower Back Anyway
Your lower back is known as the lumbar region of the spine. It has a lot of heavy lifting to do: The lumbar spine carries the weight of your entire upper body, plus biomechanical stresses that occur with movement.
The lumbar spine has five vertebraebackbones. Each vertebra has a large disc cushiony gel wrapped in a tough membrane on its front side that acts as a shock absorber. Each vertebra also has two cartilage-lined facet joints on its back side. Working together, discs and facet joints allow the spine to safely bend and twist.
Your lower back also includes ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Ligaments are strong bands that hold the vertebrae and discs together. Tendons attach muscles to the vertebrae. These structures help limit excessive movement that could harm the spinal cord.
Ways To Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery
Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It cancome and go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration.Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you dont knowthe cause.
Back pain rehabilitationspecialistAndrew Nava, M.D., offers insights into common chronic back pain causes and nonsurgicaltreatment optionsand advises not to give up hope.
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Can Back Pain Lead To Complications
The good news is that most people recover from back pain within a few weeks.1 See your doctor if you experience additional symptoms, such as:
- loss of bowel and/or bladder control
- severe pain that gets worse instead of better over time
- problems with passing urine or bowel movements
- numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in your legs, back or elsewhere
- unexplained weight loss
- back redness or swelling
For some people, back pain becomes an ongoing problem. Around 1 in every 2 people who experience back pain will experience it again, and for 1 in 5 people, back pain may last beyond 8 to 12 weeks. Possible complications that result from persistent, long-term back pain include:
- dependence on strong pain medicines, such as opioids
- reduced quality of life
- more difficulty finding work and keeping active
See your healthcare professional if your back pain is unresolved and limits your movement and activities. A health care professional can help you find ways to manage your pain and regain a better quality of life.
How Can You Prevent Lower Back Pain
While you cant stop aging or change your genetic makeup, lifestyle changes can help manage and prevent lower back pain. Having a healthy lifestyle may make you less likely to suffer an accidental injury, too.
Improve your physical fitness. People who are not physically fit are more likely to develop lower back pain because strong core muscles help support the lower back.
Stay active. People who lead sedentary lives may be more likely to injure themselves when they do exert themselves. As far as back health is concerned, its better to do a smaller amount of physical activity most days of the week than to sit all week and over-exert yourself on the weekends.
Lose weight if necessary. The more you weigh, the more pressure you have on your lumbar vertebrae. Being overweight or obese can put stress on the back and lead to lower back pain.
Lift heavy objects the right way. Be sure to squat while lifting so that your hips and knees do much of the work. Keep the load close to your chest while you lift.
Your legs, not your lower back, should be the main driver when you’re lifting something heavy.Make your workspace as ergonomic as possible. If you sit at a desk, make sure your chair has plenty of low-back support and your hips are at a right angle to the floor.
Dont use tobacco products. In addition to all the other health problems tobacco use causes, it can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the discs, causing them to degenerate faster.
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Will Bed Rest Help Back Pain
Doctors often recommend continuing your usual activities of daily living as soon as possible. Studies suggest that strict bedrest can often prolong or worsen low back pain. Bed rest can also lead to secondary complications such as depression, decreased muscle tone, and blood clots in the legs. You should try and keep moving while avoiding activities that noticeably aggravate or worsen back pain. By staying active, those who suffer from low back pain can gain greater flexibility and quicker recovery.
Are Recliner Chairs Good For Back Pain
Nothing feels better than coming home at the end of the day and putting your feet up in a super comfortable chair.
However:
The wrong living room chair can cause or aggravate back pain, hip pain, and neck pain, while the right recliner canrelieve and prevent back pain from muscle stiffness, sciatica, Herniated disc, and back surgery.
In fact:
A study performed by the University of Alberta Hospital in Canada suggests that the best sitting position for your back is somewhat reclined, sitting at a 135-degree body-thigh position.
Sitting in a sound anatomic position is essential, since the strain put on the spine and its associated ligaments over time can lead to pain, deformity, and chronic illness.WebMD
treat your back pain further
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Lying On Your Back In A Reclined Position
Even though sleeping in a chair may not be the most suitable choice for back pain, it will be helpful if you have isthmic spondylolisthesis. To create better support, keep the bed in a slumped position. Alternatively, you can invest in an adjustable bed for achieving a reclined position.
How to sleep in this position:
- Place a pillow under your back or adjust your mattress in a reclined position.
Benefits of sleeping in this position:
When the vertebra descends over the one below it, it is known as isthmic spondylolisthesis. Sleeping in a reclined position will create an angle between the trunk and thighs. It reduces the pressure on your spinal cord.
Waist Heating Belt Massager Motor Virbrating Heating Pad
Heres a heating and massaging pad designed especially for targeting the lower back cramps and pain. This heating pad works for lower back arthritis cramps and improves blood flow. If you are suffering from muscle soreness, sciatica or lower back pain, wear this heating pad, and it will stimulate circulation while offering needed comfort and relief from pain.
Pros
· Well equipped with 8.4v adapter and overheat protection tool
· Comes with auto mode changing feature
· Easy to clean pad without electric leakage
· Comes with 3 heating and 3 vibration settings for a comfortable massage
· Great for office workers, elders and others who are suffering from arthritis or lower back pain
· Offers hot and cold therapy through its 2 motor massage
· Relieves pain in the lumbar area, lower back, and abdominal area
· Features breathable neoprene and hook and loop for better compression
Cons
· Does not come with a battery pack
Features:
The vibrating heating pad features heat and vibration buttons that work simultaneously or individually. The pad can fit up to 42 belly size in circumference. Simply turn on or off the heat or massage buttons by long-pressing for 3 seconds. The massager is easy to use and also has 3 heat and vibrating settings for controlled massage. The heat mode is for the highest temperature, the white mode is for medium temperature, and blue mode is for the lowest temperature.
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Exerpeutic Inversion Table With Airsoft
Review
If you want to get yourself an inversion table to get the worth for every penny, then just go for this unique yet reliable inversion table at once. It contains the lumbar support combined with an additional feature, i.e., heating and vibration therapy, for quick back pain recovery and muscle soreness.
Ultra-soft ankle supports are there to prevent ankle pinching and keep you safe from mishaps and falls. Moreover, three-angle crossbars are also there to help you maintain multiple inversion angles.
The soft foam backrest and the foam-filled handles are there to provide you with unbelievable comfort during therapeutic sessions. So stop wasting your time and get this table instantly.
Pros
Does Psychosocial Intervention Prevent Chronicity
Although evidence certainly shows the contribution of psychosocial factors to the development of chronic low back pain and disability, less is known about the efficacy of interventions aimed at patients identified with increased risk due to these factors. A recently published clinical trial did not find positive effects of a specifically designed intervention to be applied by general practitioners for patients with acute or subacute low back pain. The intervention focused on the identification of psychosocial prognostic factorsdiscussing these factors with the patient, setting specific goals for reactivation, and providing an educational booklet. Compared with usual care, however, no differences were found on any outcome measure during a year long follow-up. Also, in currently available clinical guidelines, no clear recommendations are given regarding the optimal treatment of patients at risk once they have been identified. The development and evaluation of interventions aimed at prevention of chronicity is of utmost importance in the coming years.
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What Are Some Common Lower Back Pain Causes
The causes of lower back pain are sometimes viewed as being mechanical, organic or idiopathic. Sometimes spinal conditions are congenital or acquired meaning the disorder develops later in life.
- Mechanical lower back pain is often triggered by spinal movement and involves spinal structures, such as the facet joints, intervertebral discs, vertebral bodies , ligaments, muscles or soft tissues.
- Organic lower back pain is attributed to disease, such as spinal cancer.
- Idiopathic refers to an unknown cause.
These are some of the things your doctor might look for or rule out when you schedule a visit for back pain.
The common symptoms of lower back pain.
Sprains and strains. Ligament sprains and muscle or tendon strains are the most common causes of lower back pain. Theyre often related to overuse.
Degenerative disc disease. While the name sounds worrisome, it just means you have a damaged disc causing pain. Over time, discs become thinner and flatter due to wear and tear. That leaves them less able to cushion the vertebrae and more likely to tear .
Herniated disc. The protective covering on intervertebral discs can tear over time. When this happens, the soft inner disc tissue may push through the outer layer. A disc that bulges or slips out of place is known as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or slipped disc. The herniation may press on nerve roots, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the area that the nerve serves
How To Get Relief On A Budget
When youre struggling with back pain, you may feel like youre willing to give anything to get relief, but the realities of your budget can mean that you have to think about the impact of any mattress purchase on your bottom line. The good news is that there are multiple wallet-friendly ways to improve your bed, enhance your sleep, and give your back a rest.
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Sleep On Your Stomach With A Pillow Under It
There is a common opinion that sleeping in this position will be bad for back pain. However, we cannot deny it because it creates stress on your neck. This position can also cause a slight pressure when your whole body weight lies on the stomach.
How to sleep in this position:
- Put a pillow beneath your pelvic region and lower abdomen.
- Based on your comfort, you can either keep a pillow below your head or not.
Benefits of sleeping in this position:
Sleeping on your stomach may benefit the person who has degenerative disc disease. It has the capacity to relieve any type of pressure on the space between the discs.
> > > 1 Unlikely Stretch Wipes Out Sciatica
Surgical interventions to correct spinal deformity include spinal fusion, which is a surgical procedure that uses bone graft to replace a disc. After undergoing surgery, your back will require physical therapy for three to six months. In addition to doctors and dentists, you can also see neurologists, physiatrists, and chiropractors. These specialists specialize in the brain and spinal cord disorders. They are often the best choice for patients seeking treatment for back pain.
Non-specific back pain is usually not diagnosed until the pain is long-term. There is no clear cause for non-specific back pain, but doctors should seek a diagnosis to treat the condition. It is important to visit a specialist for treatment in order to get the best treatment options. If the pain is chronic or has no specific cause, a doctor will perform diagnostic imaging to help identify the exact source of the pain. Further, they can perform MRIs to help diagnose underlying conditions.
While back pain is a common ailment, it can also be caused by something else. Many people experience sciatica or other pain in the leg, and a slipped disc could be the cause. Other types of back pain may be more acute, such as a herniated disc. For nonspecific back pain, a doctor may need to perform radiological imaging to diagnose the exact cause of the pain.
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