If you have chronic back pain, you're not alone. Low back pain is one of two main conditions, (back pain and neck pain), when people go on disability, meaning they are not able to work. It can make daily life hard. But, there is help. We'll look at ways to fight back pain and take back your life.
Everyone's back pain is different, and what helps one person might not help another. So, it's good to try different things to see what works for you.
Dealing with any kind of back pain or injury is tough. But, the advice we'll cover can make you feel better and hopefully give you an understanding your best choices to identify what is causing the problem and how to fix it. You shouldn't have to just deal with the pain and take medicine, there are better ways and after all you deserve to be active and pain free.
Key Takeaways:
- Severe back pain can greatly impact your quality of life, it can be debilitating so you cannot get out of bed, work, go to the gym or play with your kids.
- Managing severe back pain requires an individualized approach; a patient's medical history plays a big part on what therapies can and can't help alleviate pain.
- Exploring different strategies and treatments can lead to relief whether it be all natural methods or mainstream medicine.
- Don't be afraid to try new approaches to find what works for you. Whether it be back pain relief through chiropractic, physical therapy, or shockwave therapy; there are many new treatment approaches that are worth trying.
- By taking control of your back pain, you can improve your overal health, vitality and energy; people suffering with chronic back pain are usually very irritatble and unhappy.
Understanding Back Pain and Its Causes
Back pain can be tough, but knowing what causes it is a key step. We will talk about the types of back pain, especially lower back pain. Learning these causes helps you know how to make the pain go away and fix the underlying cause of the problem.
Many people in the Kingwood and Houston area suffer from lower back pain. It can make simple tasks hard, even impossible, with many people having to miss work because of the severeity of the pain. There are billions of dollars every year spent towards treating low back pain and trying to get people back to work. Back pain can take both a mental and physical toll when it is effecting every day activities and hobbies such as gardening, traveling, golfing, playing with grandkids or being able to perform at work.
One big reason for lower back pain is muscle strains, sprains and misalignment of the spine. This happens when back muscles get pulled or torn. It can be from moving in a sudden way, lifting heavy things wrong, or postural stress over time.
Another cause is herniated or bluging discs, often called slipped discs. These discs are like shock absorbers between your spine bones. But, when they get herniated, they can push on nerves and cause a lot of local back pain and radiating pain down the leg to the foot.
Some spine issues can also lead to lower back pain. Spinal stenosis is when the spine's spaces shrink, squeezing nerves. Degenerative disc disease is the slow wear and tear of these discs, which can irritate the joints causing inflammation and severe pain.
Car accidents or whiplash injuries can cause low back pain, the amount of stress that is put on the lumbar spine during a car wreck is unlike anything you have experienced before. These high speed accidents can cause facet joint damage, inflammation, muscle spasm, spinal misalignements, disc bulges and more. It is recommended that after a serious fender bender to go to the emergency room, medical doctor and a car accident chiropractor to help get you pain free and back to living a normal life.
Knowing what causes lower back pain is the first step to dealing with it. Talk to your MD, chiropractor, orthopedic doctor or acupuncturist to find out the exact reason for your pain. They can then help diagnose the problem through exam, imaging, muscle testing and other procedures.
Relief Strategies for Severe Back Pain
If you're in a lot of back pain, having an open mind to different treatments is important. We will talk about things you can do. This includes seeing a doctor, doing exercises for your back, using natural fixes, and tips for managing the pain well.
Medical Options for Back Pain Relief
If your back pain keeps getting worse, seeing a back pain expert is key. They look at your history and exam findings and then suggest what to do. This might include:
- Using special medicines: These could be drugs for muscle spasm or ones that fight swelling to help ease the pain. Your medical doctor will recommend the right one for you.
- Physical therapy: A therapist can show you exercises to make your back stronger, increase flexibility, and reduce the pain.
- Getting shots: Sometimes, shots with medicines are used to lower the swelling and give you a break from the pain. Pain shots like Cortisone are very common and act as a massive anti-inflammatory.
- Having surgery: If other ways don't work, an operation might be needed, especially if there's a problem that surgery can fix. There are many diffferent types of low back surgeries today, some are not too invasive and other more invasive. If surgery is your only option; talk to your doctor and let them know your expectations after surgery.
Natural Remedies for Back Pain Relief
There are also natural ways to help with back pain:
- Using heat or cold: A hot pad or something cold on your back can help with swelling and pain. Be careful not to use too much heat as this can increase inflammation and prevent the area from healing.
- Working out and stretching: Doing the right exercises and stretches helps keep your back muscles strong and flexible, helping relieve pressure from the lumbar spine and reducing pain.
- Trying yoga and Pilates: These exercises work on your body and your mind to make you stronger, more flexible, and less stressed, all of which can help with back pain.
- Getting a massage: It's not just relaxing, but it can also help ease muscle pain and stress in your back.
- Chiropractic care: chiropractor look at how postural stress and spinal misalignments contribute to low back pain. Based on examination they will let you know what the root cause of the back pain is and a treatment plan on how to fix it. Chiropractors only use natural healing remedies, they do not prescribe medication or perform surgery.
Practical Tips for Back Pain Management
Other than medical and natural help, changing how you live can also ease back pain:
- Sit and stand straight: This is very important to protect your back, set a timer every day to do simple, postural exercises; this is a life saver to prevent low back pain and neck pain.
- Don't stay in one position for too long: Move around to give your back a break from sitting and standing; the body always does better when active. Blood flow and nerve flow happens much more effectively when your body moves.
- Have a good setup: Make sure where you work is set up right so it doesn't hurt your back, there are ergonomic suggestions online. You can even get a stand up desk and go between sitting and standing when you are at work.
- Stress less: Stress can make back pain worse. Doing things like deep breathing, meditating, or yoga can help you feel less stressed and in less pain. Try and take a break every hour, just for 5 minutes; go into stress reduction mode.
It's important to know everyone's different, so finding what works for you might take some time. Be patient, and keep trying different things with the help of a doctor, chiropractor or therapist. Getting pain relief with get you feeling happier and noticeably improve your energy.
Conclusion
Dealing with severe back pain needs a proactive plan for relief. It is vital to ask a medical professional or an experienced chiropractor to find what's causing your pain. With the help of these healthcare pros, a treatment plan made just for you will help you get on the right path to pain relief.
We looked at lots of ways to ease back pain in this article. There are medical options, natural ways, and exercises to try out. But, what helps one person might not help another. So, it’s good to try different things and not give up. Most treatment plans using physical therapy, chiropractic or acupuncture are 6-8 weeks duration; so be patients and let the healing happen; do not rush it.
Being active about treating your back pain can lead to a big improvement in how you feel. Consistency is key, whether it’s through exercises, mainstream medicine, chiropractic or other alternative healthcare treatments. Always remember, you can choose how to tackle your back pain and get back to enjoying life without it. We are meant to be pain free, active and living our life to the fullest; get the help you need and get rid of your back aches and pains for good.
FAQ
What can I do when I have severe back pain?
If your back hurts a lot, talk to a doctor for help. They will give you steps to ease the pain. You can use hot or cold packs and do some easy stretches. Try not to do things that make it worse. Keep in mind that every patient's pain is different; some people have a strained back, some have a kidney stone giving severe pain, some injured their backs doing squats at the gym. It is imperative to actively find a doctor to help identify the cause of your problem and not just sit around hoping the pain will go away.
What is the difference between severe back pain and chronic back pain?
Severe/acute back pain is very strong but does not last long. Chronic back pain lasts for twelve weeks or more. It changes how you live every day. Doctors can figure out what's wrong and help you feel better. The opposite of chronic pain is acute pain; acute pain meaning it is a new pain; you slipped in the shower, you felt something pop while golfing, you went to lift your grandchild and your back went out; these are good examples of acute back pain. Acute low back pain can certainly turn into chronic pain if it is not fixed says Dr. Hamel?
What are the common causes of lower back pain?
Many things can cause lower back pain. This includes muscle strains, work accidents, car accidents and herniated discs. Other factors are chronic poor posture, being too heavy, and not moving enough can also make your back hurt. Most patients coming in, says Dr. Hamel, have one or more of these going on; anyone who strained their low back while being over weight and inflexible can have serious back issues.
Are there exercises that can help relieve back pain?
Yes, corrective exercises can help your back feel better, make it stronger and more stabile. You can do easy stretches, yoga, or exercises for your core which helps support your low back. Make sure to learn these exercises from a doctor or a therapist to do them right, you have to do the right exercises; the ones that do not cause extra pain when doing them. We see so many patients, says Dr. Hamel, that watch YouTube videos on low back exercises; most of them come in to our office in worse pain; the no pain, no gain model never works very well.
Can natural remedies provide relief for back pain?
Some natural ways and remedies can help, like using natural supplements and muscle rubs. Taking herbs like turmeric, glucosamine sulphate and fish oil can help reduce inflammation and pain. Always ask a doctor if these are safe for you before trying them, most natural supplements are very safe with little to no side effects compared to mainstream medicine, pain meds and anti-inflammatories.
How can I effectively manage my back pain?
To manage back pain, do many things together. This might include medicine, corrective exercies, physical therapy, chiropractic and changing some lifestyle habits. Pick healthy habits to do every day that will move you in a direction of alleviating your low back pain, do these consistently and you will see the benefits within 30 days.
