Table of Contents

Chronic back pain relief

Chronic back pain relief is a must for those who suffer from this condition. The only way to find relief from chronic back pain is through non-surgical procedures and therapies.

Chronic back pain is a condition in which you have constant pain in your lower back that lasts longer than three months. Chronic back pain can be caused by many things, including injury, arthritis, muscle strain and disc herniation.

Conventional treatment for chronic back pain includes medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. However, these medications can have harmful side effects and are not always effective.

What is back pain?

Back pain is the most common reason people seek medical care. It can range from mild to severe, and it can be a chronic condition or one that comes and goes.

Back pain is often a symptom of another problem. It’s important to understand the cause of your back pain so you can get the right treatment.

The spine is made up of bones (vertebrae), nerves, ligaments and muscles that work together to provide support for your upper body. The joints between each vertebra allow movement in different directions, such as bending forward or backward and side-to-side twisting motions.

Short-term back pain treatment options

When you have back pain, it can be difficult to know what the best treatment option is. Your doctor may suggest starting with a short-term treatment and then following up with a long-term strategy.

Short-term back pain treatments can reduce your symptoms and help you recover from an injury.

Heat therapy and cold therapy

Applying heat or cold directly to your back can help ease muscle soreness and stiffness, as well as inflammation in the area around your spine. Heat loosens tight muscles and improves blood flow, while cold reduces swelling in painful areas of your spine. If you’re treating yourself at home, try alternating between heat and cold several times a day until you feel better. If you’re using heat or cold packs as part of a recommended treatment regimen from your doctor, follow their instructions carefully to avoid burns or frostbite.

Anti-inflammatory medicines

If you have low back pain, your doctor may recommend taking some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Some people take them to reduce swelling and relieve pain from arthritis and other conditions. NSAIDs are not recommended for most people with sciatica or a herniated disc.

The main risk of taking these medicines is that they can cause stomach bleeding, which could lead to serious complications if it’s not treated. These risks increase with age and if you have ulcers or other conditions that affect your stomach lining.

You should not take NSAIDs if you:

  • Are allergic to any of them
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Have kidney disease or high blood pressure

Massage therapy

Massage therapy for back pain is a popular alternative therapy that is often used for treating muscle pain and stiffness.

Massage therapy can help ease the pain of back problems by increasing blood flow to the affected area, which reduces swelling and inflammation. Massage can also help increase flexibility, which can relieve pressure on spinal discs and joints.

Diverse techniques are used in massage therapy, including Swedish massage, trigger point release techniques and myofascial release techniques.

Physical therapy or manual therapy

Physical therapy and manual therapy are both effective in treating low back pain, according to a new study. The findings indicate that the two approaches can be used interchangeably, which may lead to cost savings and greater access to care.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from 2,914 patients with non-specific low back pain who were treated at a single center in Belgium between 2010 and 2015.

Half of the patients received physical therapy and half received manual therapy. The median age of participants was 45 years old, 60 percent were women and 69 percent had sciatica (pain radiating down one leg).

The researchers found that all treatment groups showed significant improvement over time. Physical therapy was associated with slightly better outcomes than manual therapy at three months after treatment began, but there was no significant difference between the two approaches after six months or at one year.

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to health and wellness that focuses on the spine and its relationship to the rest of the body.

Chiropractic treatment includes spinal adjustments, massage therapy, exercise and lifestyle advice. Chiropractic medicine is often used to treat conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches and more.

Chiropractors differ from medical doctors in that they do not perform surgery or prescribe drugs. Instead, they use spinal manipulation, wellness education and other natural methods to address a range of physical ailments.

Chiropractic care for back pain

The goal of chiropractic medicine is to correct alignment problems in the spine through spinal manipulation (also known as adjustments). This can relieve pressure on nerves running through the vertebrae, which may be causing pain or discomfort throughout the body. In turn, this may alleviate symptoms like headaches, fatigue and muscle stiffness.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture for back pain is a safe and effective alternative to traditional Western medicine. Acupuncture is a treatment method that involves inserting thin needles into your skin at specific points along your body’s meridians, or energy pathways.

Acupuncture for back pain can help relieve pain and other symptoms of lower back problems. It may also help you feel better emotionally and mentally, as well as physically.

If you’re thinking about trying acupuncture, here are some things to consider:

An acupuncturist will insert hair-thin needles into specific points on your body (called acupuncture points). The needles don’t hurt when they’re inserted and most people tolerate them well.

The number of sessions required varies based on the person’s condition and how long they’ve had it. Most people need between eight and 12 treatments over a period of several weeks or months before they notice an improvement in their condition.

Acupuncture treatments don’t involve anesthesia or surgery, so there are no side effects associated with the treatment itself — just some redness around the needle sites that goes away within minutes after treatment ends.

Steroid injections

Steroid injections for back pain are medical procedures that use corticosteroids to treat inflammation. They can be used to treat back pain caused by a number of conditions, such as spinal disc herniation and spinal stenosis.

Corticosteroid injections are often given with other treatments, such as physical therapy or epidural injections.

Long-term back pain treatment options

If you are experiencing long-term back pain, it is important to see your doctor. Back pain can be a symptom of another problem, such as infection or cancer. Your doctor will work with you to figure out what the underlying cause of your back pain might be and how best to treat it.

If you have chronic back pain, there are many treatments available. Treatment options depend on the cause of the pain and how long you’ve had it. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or exercises, injections into the joints around your spine, medication or surgery. The type of treatment depends on the following factors:

Back surgery

Back surgery for back pain is not a simple procedure. In fact, it can be risky and lead to serious complications.

Before you consider back surgery for back pain, it’s important to understand the risks and benefits of this type of treatment. You should also understand what types of conditions your doctor may recommend surgery for.

What are the risks?

  • Back surgery carries risks such as:
  • Blood clots
  • Herniated disk that causes radiating pain down the legs
  • Nerve damage that causes numbness or weakness in the legs or feet
  • Paralysis

Non-surgical back pain treatment options

Non-surgical treatments include:

Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to relieve muscle spasms and inflammation. These drugs are usually taken as pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicine.

Exercise: Gentle stretching exercises may help ease muscle tension in your back muscles and keep them loose during recovery from surgery. Some doctors recommend getting an exercise ball so you can do some simple exercises while sitting at work or watching TV at home — this way you don’t have to spend extra time working out at the gym after work or on weekends!