How To Alleviate Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most debilitating discomforts known to man. But fortunately doctors and pain specialists have conducted a lot of research in recent years, so you don't have to live with chronic back pain like sufferers from the past. You can start by following some basic steps and treatments that can alleviate your back pain. If your back doesn't improve, you may need to get professional help. Untreated back pain can impede the healing process by affecting the immune system, according to Spine-health.com.

Physical Activity
Rest your back for several days and take the pressure off it. You should not avoid movement though as this may cause more harm in the long run. Exercise has recently been proven as the most effective activity to reduce and cure lower back pain. You can purchase a belt for support when you must lift objects or exert pressure on your back.

Take Pain Medications
Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin can alleviate pain and reduce inflammation that causes pain. Check the bottle for the recommended dosage and use the medication throughout the day. If these medications don't help, see your doctor. He may prescribe a muscle relaxant or stronger pain pill until your pain improves.

Try Warm Baths
Warm water can serve as a soothing anodyne for back pain, especially in the lower back, where most back pain occurs. Lie in a warm tub of water for 20 to 25 minutes and continue to add hot water. You can also insert a wet cloth inside a heating pad for similar results.

Perform Stretching Exercises
Once your pain subsides, do some stretching exercises. For lower back pain, lie on the floor and pull one or both knees to your chest up to ten times. Press your back to the floor. Tense your buttocks. For middle or upper back pain, move your arms back and forth as you hold them up as if making a football goal post. Exercise strengthens muscles in the back which takes pressure off the injured area. 

If your back doesn't improve, you may need to see a pain specialist. Pain specialists can help pinpoint the source of your pain and prescribe the appropriate treatments for healing.

What to Know When Visiting a Pain Management Doctor

Living with chronic pain is a huge challenge. Millions of people of all ages deal with chronic pain every year. Around 25 percent of Americans have reported pain that has lasted longer than 24 hours. Some cases start after an injury or illness, but others start seemingly out of the blue. Common types of chronic pain include arthritis, migraines, shingles, and back and neck pain. Although pain management is a common problem, it can be difficult to know if or when you should see a doctor, as well as what to expect when you do schedule an appointment.

In general, you should contact a doctor if your pain is repeatedly interfering with your life or if it seems impossible to control. If the pain has lasted over three months or is causing sleeplessness, making an appointment with a pain management doctor will be worth your time. 

Meeting with your primary care physician is the first step toward treating your chronic pain. Depending on the severity of the pain, your physician may refer you to a pain management doctor. Pain management doctors specialize in treating chronic pain. Pain doctors come from other specialties, including psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists. Depending on their background, most doctors will specialize in a particular type of pain. 

Many doctors will firstly try a watchful waiting period of time. In this time, both you and the doctor will observe your symptoms without treatment. During the watchful waiting, the doctor may recommend taking pain relievers, getting more exercise, sleeping more, or other small changes. 

If these methods are unsuccessful, the doctor may choose to try other pain management techniques. These techniques vary greatly depending on the type and severity of the pain. Some methods include electrotherapy, muscle relaxants, injections, and superficial heating and cooling of the skin. The doctor may also recommend working with other specialists, such as physical therapists or counselors, to find the pain management method that best helps you.

4 Back Pain Treatments

If you live in constant pain, you are probably searching for a pain treatment. Some pain management centers realize that patients need a treatment plan that has been customized to fit their diagnosis. This customization may mean that some patients are undergoing a number of different treatments to help reduce the overall pain in their life. Common pain treatment options include:

1.       Injections

An injection is typically a liquid that is put into your body through a needle in order to reduce localized pain caused from injuries, arthritis, chronic disease and other medical issues. When it comes to injections for pain treatment, there are a number of different options. Depending on your pain, you may need a simple injection or an epidural steroid injection.

2.       Pain Pumps

A pain pump is a piece of equipment that delivers pain medication. Typically it is inserted in your body and programmed to release the medication over a certain period of time. Most often this type of pain treatment is used for spinal or nerve pain.

3.       Radiofrequency Ablation

Ablation is the surgical removal of tissue.Radiofrequency ablation uses an alternating medium frequency current to generate heat that can remove dysfunctional tissue.  It often considered a long-term pain management option because it can target specific nerves.

4.       Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) uses electrical current to interrupt nerve impulses that cause chronic pain. Typically a pulse generator is implanted where it can send pulses directly to the spinal cord. Again, this type of treatment is a preferred option for the treatment of chronic pain.

If you suffer from constant pain, you may not see the desired benefits from just one of these pain treatment options. Using a combination of these procedures, you may be able to find respite from the pain. Talk with an expert today to find out what sort of procedures may be right for you.

Common Types of Back Pain Treatments

Back pain affects all ages but can be particularly debilitating for older Americans, who may have other underlying complications that create the pain. Still, back pain treatments, regardless of age, are contingent on the extent of injuries, whether they're muscular, skeletal or congenital in nature. Most medical specialists recognize two categories of treatment--conservative and aggressive. You can employ many conservative treatments at home before you see a doctor, while aggressive treatments are typically reserved for more serious back injuries. 

Bed Rest
It is advisable to stop all physical activity when you feel back pain and get plenty of rest. The key is to minimize the inflammation, which will only get worse with sports or working out.

Medications
Ibuprofen, aspirin and other pain medications can help mollify your back pain and reduce inflammation. Just make sure you take the recommended dose that's listed on the bottle. If you visit your family doctor, he may prescribe stronger pain pills or muscle relaxants, depending on the severity of your injury or condition.

Heating Pads/Warm Baths
Heat can soothe your back pain and reduce pain and inflammation. WebMD recommends that you use heating pads for 15 to 20 minutes. Another option is a warm bath for a similar duration. 

Physical Therapy
If your pain persists more than a few days, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Physical therapists often use various methods to treat back pain, including massage, ultrasound and whirlpools. They may also manipulate your back and assist you with improving your range of motion. Many instruct patients to perform stretching and resistance exercises to build strength around affected areas.

Steroid Treatments/Local Anesthetics
At this stage, your doctor has likely referred you to a pain specialist who can prescribe cortisone shots or local anesthetics like lidocaine, which block nerve impulses to relieve pain. 

Surgical Treatments
A couple examples of surgical procedures include herniated disk removal and spinal fusion. Disks are like cushions between your vertebrae. Specialists remove the herniated section of the disk when they cause pain, numbness or weakness. Spinal fusion is a welding of vertebrae that connects two bones to relieve pain and discomfort.

Causes of Back Pain

Back pain can affect someone suddenly and last for a few days to weeks. Back pain can also become chronic and last for months. Back pain can occur for many different reasons. Read below to determine what could be the cause of your back pain.

Ruptured or Bulging Disks
The soft tissue inside of disks in your spine can swell or burst and press on a nerve to cause back pain. This can be caused by a disk issue that can be determined with an X-ray.

Bad Posture
Consistently holding the body in an awkward position deforms the spinal cord and strains muscles, which leads to back pain. Using stretching exercises and taking care to hold the body in an upright, relaxed position while sitting and standing and prevent this.

Ligament or Muscle Strain
Persistent strain on the back caused by heavy lifting or even one sudden awkward moment can strain spinal ligaments and back muscles and cause pain. Constant back strain on an individual that is already in sub par physical condition can also cause back pain by way of muscle spasms.

Smoking
Smoking reduces the oxygen and blood circulation in the body, which constricts the muscles and can cause back pain.

Osteoporosis
An individual with osteoporosis can become susceptible to small fractures in the spine to cause back pain. Bones that become brittle due to this condition can begin to cause chronic back pain. 

Arthritis
Arthritis of the back narrows the space around the spinal cord, resulting in back pain. This form of arthritis often affects the lower back.

Irregularities in the Spine
At times some individuals may have a condition called scoliosis, which means that the spinal cord curves to one side. This condition, in severe cases, could lead to acute back pain.

Biological and Psychological Conditions
A body that carries too much excess weight can put stress on the back and cause pain. Anxiety and depression can also cause tension in the back, which leads to pain. An individual who rarely uses their back muscles due to inactivity can weaken the muscles, making it susceptible to pain, and back pain naturally occurs in adults over the age of 30.