7 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain without Surgery
Back
pain
is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It can come and go,
often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic
back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause.
Common Causes of Chronic Back
Pain
Chronic
back pain is usually age-related, but can also result from
a prior injury. The most common causes include:
- Arthritis of the
spine —the gradual thinning of the cartilage
inside the spine
- Spinal
stenosis —narrowing of the spinal canal
that may lead to nerve pain
- Disc problems, such as a herniated or bulging disc
- Myofascial pain
syndrome—unexplained muscle pain and tenderness
In some cases, it’s difficult to pinpoint the
cause of chronic back pain. “If your doctor has exhausted all diagnostic
options, it’s time to seek a second opinion from a back pain specialist,”
recommends Nava. It’s important not to make rushed decisions or undergo
extensive medical procedures until the origin of the pain is found. Not only
may they not help; they could make the pain worse, warns Nava.
If the source of the pain is not known or can’t
be treated, your best option may be to work with your doctor on reducing the
flare-ups and making the pain manageable with nonsurgical treatments.
Nonsurgical
Treatments for Chronic Back Pain
1.Physical
Therapy
Exercise is the foundation of chronic back pain
treatment. It’s one of the first treatments you should try under the guidance
of your physician and spine physical therapist. However, the same set of
exercises doesn’t work for everyone, says Nava. The exercises have to be
tailored to your specific symptoms and condition. Maintaining the exercise
routine at home is also a big part of success.
Physical therapy for chronic back pain may
include:
o Retraining
your posture
o Testing the
limits of pain tolerance
o Stretching
and flexibility exercises
o Aerobic
exercises
o Core
strengthening
2.Mindfulness
and Meditation
Chronic back pain is straining both physically and
emotionally. To manage the frustration, irritability, depression and other
psychological aspects of dealing with chronic pain, you may get referred to
a rehabilitation psychologist. This specialist may recommend meditation,
yoga, tai chi and other cognitive and relaxation strategies to keep your mind
from focusing on pain
3.Diet
Some diets are highly inflammatory, especially
those high in Trans fats, refined sugars and processed foods. Consult with your
doctor to see if your diet could be contributing to your chronic back pain and
how you could change it. Maintaining a healthy weight could also help lessen
your back pain by reducing the pressure on your spine.
4.Lifestyle
Modifications
When you have chronic pain, it’s important to
accept your limitations and adapt. “Listen to your body and learn to pace
yourself,” suggests Nava. Take a break when mowing the lawn, or make several
trips when carrying groceries. Take note of the activities that worsen your
pain and avoid them if possible. Not only could this help your back feel
better, it could also prevent the underlying condition from advancing. Another
important lifestyle change to try is giving up smoking. Nicotine is
scientifically known to accentuate pain and delay healing.
5.Injection-based
Treatments
Nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections,
nerve ablations and other types of injection-based procedures are available for
chronic back pain. They are used when the source of the pain is known and can
sometimes help rule out certain causes if the treatment doesn’t work.
Injections may stop or lessen pain for a certain period of time, but are not
intended as long-term solutions and shouldn’t be used in isolation.
6.Alternative
Treatments
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy,
laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical
spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your
spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.
7.Pharmacologic
Treatments
Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle
relaxants and other medications can be used to help control chronic back pain.
However, most come with unwanted side effects and are not intended for
prolonged use.
“Opioid medications generally shouldn’t be used
as the first, the only or the long-term line of treatment for chronic back
pain,” recommends Nava. Many of them are addictive and don’t address the
underlying cause of your pain. Opioids should be prescribed only after a
thorough exam by a specialist and if other drugs have failed to provide relief.
If you find yourself relying on opioids to get through the day, it may be time
to seek a second opinion.
If you are suffering from a muscle injury, or
any type of muscle spasm, using Carisoprodol to relieve your muscle pain
may help. However, it should always be used in conjunction with your doctor’s
prescription for muscle relaxants.
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