Chronic Back Pain Treatments That Get Results

Many Americans suffer from chronic back pain. Maybe you’re one of them. If not, it’s very likely that you know someone who is.

According to a report by the National Institutes of Health, 25 percent of Americans have back pain. Only the common cold beats out back pain as the top reason people visit the doctor. Back pain is characterized as chronic if a person experiences it for three months or more.

What can be done about it to produce real results? The good news is that over 95 percent of back pain can be managed without surgery.

Non-Surgical Ways to Help You Deal with Your Back Pain

Here are some ways to treat chronic back pain and get real relief.

At-home remedies. Start with non-medicinal remedies, like heat and ice treatments. Hot baths, heating pads, heated towels, warming pads, and heat gels may provide relief when pain flares. You can alternate with bags of ice or reusable cold packs to ease the pain.

Nutritional remedies. Staying hydrated is very important. Water flushes toxins out of your system and improves blood flow, which reduces inflammation.

Your diet also matters. The foods you eat may be contributing to the inflammation in your back. Remove common triggers one week at a time to see if your symptoms decrease. Common triggers include dairy, wheat, sugar, eggs, red meat, and fried or processed foods.

Aim to eat more non-inflammatory foods such as leafy greens, asparagus, cherries, cranberries, soy, walnuts, olive oil, and salmon. Try to incorporate the spice called turmeric into smoothies, oatmeal, and savory dishes. Turmeric contains curcurmin, a natural compound which prevents inflammation. A healthier diet may help you lose weight, which takes pressure off your spine and may relieve pain.

Posture and exercise. It’s important to practice good posture to keep back pain from worsening. An experienced Florida chiropractor can show you the best form for sitting and standing, and can help you strengthen core muscles, which support a strong back.

Being sedentary is terrible for back health. Choose a low-impact activity, like yoga or swimming, to loosen muscles, build strength, and ease the stress that comes from chronic pain.

Electrical stimulation. You may benefit from the use of an electric spine-stimulating device. The device delivers low-wattage electrical current in pulses to the spine and spinal cord. The soothing electrical sensation replaces the pain.

This treatment works well for some and not for others. It’s worth a try if your pain is unmanageable.

Spinal manipulation. A skilled chiropractor can properly manipulate your spine, which will relieve pressure and help you manage your pain. Depending on your condition, therapeutic massages or physical therapy may also be good chiropractic treatments.

Mind over matter. Since pain levels differ between individuals, using the mind to manage pain may be a truly effective method. You can be trained to use relaxation techniques, positive visual imagery, distraction. Other therapies like biofeedback and hypnosis may work for you. These techniques promote deep muscle relaxation and disassociation from chronic pain.

Before You Turn to Last-Ditch Methods to Relieve Your Pain

When these non-medicinal treatments aren’t helping enough, you may want to try over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers if over-the-counter painkillers don’t provide enough relief.

Typically, only those with significant disk or nerve compression are candidates for surgery. Some patients with spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spine, may benefit from minimally invasive surgery.

Before you even consider surgery, though, contact a chiropractor. They may be able to relieve your symptoms without your having to go under the knife.

About the Author: 

Dr. Singer has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 20 years, and USA Health & Therapy has been around since 2004. Over the course of his career, Singer has helped tens of thousands of people with all kinds of issues by using a wide variety of treatment strategies. He has extensive knowledge of chiropractic modalities, including Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop Table, and Activator, and in 1997 he earned a special adjunctive Chiropractic Certification in Spinal Trauma (CCST) to better provide care for car crash victims. Dr. Singer is licensed to practice chiropractic medicine in both Florida and New York.