Your doctor will ask you about your pain, such as how severe it is. They may examine your back and talk to you about how the pain affects your daily activities.
Your treatment options include short-term treatments and long-term ones. You might also try other home remedies, such as alternating hot and cold packs or taking an anti-inflammatory medication.
Physical Therapy
Many people with back pain tend to stop exercising back pain treatment and take it easy for a while, which is good in that it allows the muscles to relax. However, it is important to keep moving as much as possible. This will help to strengthen the back muscles and take some pressure off the bones and joints, which will speed up the healing process.
It is also important to consider your posture when sitting, standing or walking, as poor posture can lead to back pain. It is a good idea to talk with a physical therapist about the issue and get their advice on how to improve it.
For most cases, simple over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol can be enough to keep the back pain at bay. For more serious cases, a doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (e.g. Advil).
In some cases, doctors may also prescribe stronger pain medication such as opioids for the most severe back pain conditions. However, these medications are only recommended for a short period of time and should not be used as a long-term solution. Other treatment options include acupuncture, spinal manipulation and cortisone injections. A doctor will assess the situation and decide which of these treatments is best for the patient. They will also discuss whether or not surgery is an option and what type of procedure would be most suitable.
Chiropractic Care
When your back pain is causing serious discomfort and affects your quality of life, you should consider seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained to diagnose the cause of your pain and perform medical-free spinal manipulations. These spinal adjustments can help restore normal spinal function, which in turn helps the nervous system function normally.
Your first session with a chiropractor may include an examination and tests to assess your condition. The chiropractor will examine your back and ask questions to determine where the pain is coming from, when it started and how long it has been present. He or she will also ask you how severe your back pain is and how it affects your daily activities.
In some cases, your chiropractor will recommend x-rays or an MRI to confirm the underlying cause of your pain. These imaging tests show bones, muscles, tissue and ligaments. They can also reveal herniated discs and other problems with the spinal cord, nerves, tendons or blood vessels.
Your chiropractor will create a treatment plan during the initial sessions. He or she will recommend a program of physical therapy, massage and other methods to improve your back strength and flexibility. These treatments can reduce the inflammation caused by spine injuries and encourage quicker healing. They can also reduce your need for pain relievers. A large 2020 study found that spinal manipulation significantly reduced the number of prescription opioids taken by people with neck pain.
Massage Therapy
A back injury from lifting a heavy object, an accident or even sneezing can tense muscles and cause pain in the spine and surrounding areas. Massage therapy helps to ease that tension, relax the soft tissue and improve mobility and flexibility.
A professional massage therapist will use a variety of hands-on movements such as kneading, stretching and compressing. They can also focus on tense spots in the muscle and tissues that are known as trigger points. These tight bands of muscle often feel like a knot and can radiate pain to other parts of the body.
The therapist will search for these painful areas and use deep pressure to release them. The resulting increase in endorphins, the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals, can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood.
Manual therapies can be performed by osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists. They include spinal manipulation and mobilisation to stretch and manipulate the spine and other joints in the back and neck. These can be effective at easing the pain but they need to be combined with other treatments to prevent recurrence of the pain.
Other modalities that can be used for back pain include acupuncture, which involves inserting extremely thin needles at strategic points and depths in the body. This ancient practice has been shown to help reduce pain for most people who try it and physiotherapy, which involves exercises and stretches that improve strength and mobility.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves using needles to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes and promote wellness. The treatment works by triggering the release of beneficial chemicals such as endorphins into your spinal cord and brain. These chemicals work to decrease or eliminate your back pain and improve your overall quality of life.
During an acupuncture session, your practitioner places needles in specific acupoints. These points are located throughout your body along 14 major energy-carrying channels. These channels are called meridians. Your acupuncturist may also use acupressure techniques to help relieve your back pain.
One of the most common types of acupuncture used to treat back pain is acupressure for the lower back point, which can be found about two fingers’ distance below your navel. Acupressure on this point helps to relieve the pressure from your sciatic nerve, causing you to feel less pain.
Another popular type of acupuncture for Health back pain is auricular acupuncture, which involves placing needles in the ear. These points are believed to have a connection to your back pain and are associated with qi, which is the energy that flows through your body.
Conclusion
Many people find that acupuncture is an effective, reliable and safe option for back pain. In fact, a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that acupuncture is “effective, scientifically valid and free of major side effects.” In addition to acupuncture, there are a number of other therapies that can ease your back pain. These include heat therapy (such as heating pads and hot water bottles), self-massage and acupressure techniques, and herbal remedies.
