Back pain is the sixth most expensive medical condition in the US, with an alarming 16 million adults suffering from persistent and chronic back pain. This prevents them from enjoying and accomplishing everyday tasks, while some experience such severe back pain that their work performance and productivity is affected.
Unfortunately, back pain can be caused by many factors. It can be the product of medical conditions, such as a slipped disk, swelling of joints, or a bone out of its position. However, most cases are non-specific, which means that the origin of your back pain is not related to your joints, bones, or soft tissues. Instead, non-specific cases of back pain are usually correlated with poor posture, stress, and minor injuries from pulling a ligament or muscle.
But, there is some hope: There is a wide variety of solutions that can help you manage the pain. If you’re interested in non-surgical treatments for chronic back pain, then here are some options that may help you.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a highly effective treatment for pain management. This treatment is used to manage various chronic pain conditions, such as migraine and back pain. Acupuncture helps ease the pain through the stimulation of points that serve as connections to our major nerve pathways. This process sends signals to our brain to release endorphins and other neurotransmitters that help in obstructing pain signals from your body to ease your discomfort.
Exercise and Diet
The food that you’re consuming can contribute to your persistent back pain. Eating food with a lot of trans fats, refined sugars, and processed foods can cause inflammation, which triggers pain signals. Furthermore, obesity can also cause back pain because your weight may cause too much pressure on your spine. You may try yoga and tai chi, which are light exercises that can help bring relief and improve your musculoskeletal health.
Lifestyle Modifications
Your posture may be one of the reasons why you’re experiencing back pain. Sit properly by keeping your hips and knees at right angles. Keep your spine straight by using back supports, like a rolled-up towel or a lumbar support. The best lumbar supports prevent you from slouching, which people tend to do when sitting without support. Look for ones made of either memory foam or gel to support your spine’s natural curvature, as this can not only improve your posture, but also boost circulation, digestion, and energy.
While driving, you may also use lumbar supports to help guide your spine. You should also move your seat close to the steering wheel while retaining enough allowance for your knees to bend comfortably and for your feet to reach the pedals. Be mindful of your standing position, as well. Stand with a straight back and make sure that your weight is balanced evenly on both feet.
Medicine
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine may be used from time to time to ease your discomfort from chronic back pain. These anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen sodium, can be easily bought over the counter. The discomfort you’re feeling from chronic back pain is triggered by our nerve receptors that can sense an inflammation. These medicines reduce inflammation by blocking an enzyme that produces prostaglandins. You can use these medications when necessary, since they have been proven to ease long-term back pain.
Article exclusively submitted to familywellnessacupuncture.com
By Ruth Joyce
