Proven Remedies for Treating Chronic Back Pain

Are you suffering from back pain? Rest assured - you are not alone - about 80% of people across the United States will deal with this at some point in their lives. Luckily, most acute back pain is relieved within a few weeks with some relatively minor self-care steps. Here are some ways to alleviate your back pain without having to resort to drastic measures such as surgery.

Stay Active

Even if your body is achy and telling you it does not want to move, keeping it in motion is often what it needs to do. This should not be too strenuous, however - walking is one of the best activities. It helps by getting you out of a sitting position and maneuvering you into a neutral, upright stance.

Try Physical Therapy

This works well for many people dealing with this predicament. A professional can help you with a diverse treatment regimen, including ultrasound, heat or ice, muscle-release methods and more. As the pain decreases, the therapist can teach you movements that will enhance your flexibility, improve your posture and bring strength to your abdominal and back muscles.

Ask Your Doctor for an Injection

If you have tried several options and the pain is not abating, a doctor can give you an injection that works to decrease pain and lower the amount of inflammation surrounding the nerve. Many patients experience a significant reduction in pain via injection treatment.

Stretch Your Hamstrings and Piriformis Muscles

Muscles in your hips and upper legs can get tight from a variety of activities and are especially tight in people who sit for long periods of time. If this happens, your sacroiliac joints and lower back may be stressed, resulting in pain. Gentle stretching of these muscles, therefore, can help reduce the discomfort.

Position Yourself Carefully for Sleep

If you have back pain issues regularly, it is important to sleep in the proper position. Talk to your doctor, but generally if you are a:

•    Back sleeper - Place a pillow under your lower back and beneath your knees.

•    Side sleeper - Pull your knees up marginally toward your chest.

•    Stomach sleeper - This is typically not recommended for those with back pain, but if you must, rest a pillow under your hips.

Common Sources of Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is an issue that most people experience at some point during their lifetime. In many of these circumstances, the pain is focused in the lower back and it is non-specific: no primary cause is determined. Of these cases, about two to ten percent develop into chronic pain problems, affecting daily living for three or more months. If you have been dealing with this for a lengthy duration, and it is starting to interfere with daily life, contact a medical professional to see what your options for treatment could be. Some of the most often seen roots of this issue are:

A Bulging or Ruptured Disc

Discs - the spongy pieces of cartilage sitting between the spinal vertebrae for cushioning - can press on a nerve due to a bulge or rupture. Sometimes this happens and you may not even have pain. In these situations, discovery often occurs via spine x-rays taken due to another issue.

Muscle or Ligament Strain

When you twist, lift a heavy object, or do a sudden movement that leads to muscles or ligaments stretching and developing microscopic tears, this can create a strain that leads to pain. If your physical condition is poor, constant pressure on your back from normal stress can also lead to painful muscle spasms.

Skeletal Irregularities

Some spines have irregular curvatures and this can be a contributing factor for back pain. Scoliosis is one of these conditions which can result in back pain, but this typically only happens in severe cases.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

Also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine or degenerative arthritis, this is a state that develops bit by bit over time. It happens when cartilage between spinal facet joints deteriorates. Initially your symptoms may appear intermittently, but they can gradually turn into a regular, unceasing low back pain. Sciatica may result from this ailment as well.