Information on Back Ache Pain Relief
According to the Mayo Clinic, four out five people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Pain can result from a strain, arthritis, bulging disks and other medical conditions. In many cases, the pain resolves itself without need for surgery. There are many ways to exercise the back, as well as non-surgical methods that can help you alleviate your pain.
Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy can help to loosen your back tissues while minimizing pain symptoms. A physical therapist can use treatments such as hot and cold therapy, ultrasound and electrical stimulation of your back. Once your back is rehabilitated, your therapist can help you strengthen it with exercises. Doing light stretches can help to improve your flexibility and strengthen your back muscles. Less stressful exercises on the back such as swimming can help with flexibility and mobility of your back.
Massage
Massage is a way of helping your back muscles relax. Your muscles are kneaded to help reduce muscle tension and increase circulation. Massage can also help to relieve muscle spasms, inflammation, fluid retention, aches, stiffness and pain. You might need multiple treatments before you experience relief of your back pain.
Medications
In some cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can alleviate back pain. If pain is severe, your physician might prescribe a muscle relaxant or strong narcotic, such as codeine or hydrocodone. Narcotics should only be used in cases of extreme pain as these drugs are highly addictive. According to the Mayo Clinic, some types of antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can be prescribed to treat chronic back pain.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors help realign your back. They can use techniques to relieve pressure on your spinal nerves, as well as help you restore joint mobility. Chiropractors might use applied pressure and massage to gently manipulate your joints and vertebrae. After continued treatments, back pain can be alleviated.
Spinal Injections
According to Joel M. Press, MD, medical director for the Center for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation, spinal injections are used to help relieve pain and address the cause of pain. Injections might be necessary if other options don't work. Injections such as cortisone can be injected into the epidural space (around your spinal cord). Cortisone helps to alleviate pain reduce inflammation.
Alternative Medicine
Other ways to ease your pain symptoms can be the use of alternative medicine. These types of treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine and biofeedback techniques. Acupuncture uses needles that are strategically placed into the sites that are the cause of pain. Herbal medicine uses the combination of herbs (such as teas) to help combat pain. According to Dr. Press, with biofeedback, a practitioner attaches sensors to certain points on your body. Your practitioner teaches you create mental and physical exercises to help with pain while being attached to these sensors. The sensors monitor your responses to these exercises, which can then help figure out which exercises work best for you.
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