Free Book… Tells You 15 Ways To Cure Back Pain

Back pain is common and the largest single cause of sickness absence in the US and UK. It can affect anyone, of any age, but it is more common in people between the ages of 35-55 years. Back pain in adolescents and young adults is commonly attributed to injury resulting from athletic activities. Back pain that occurs after a trauma, such as a car accident or fall, should also be promptly evaluated by a medical professional to check for a fracture or other injury.

Your Spine:

Your spine is a very strong part of your body and is not easily damaged. It is a complex structure consisting of 24 small bones (vertebrae),shock absorbing discs (intervertebral discs) that cushion the bones and allow the spine to bend, ligaments to hold vertebrae and discs together, tendons to connect muscles to vertebrae, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

If you are over weight:

If you are overweight you should consider a weight-reducing diet because of the extra strain that your weight puts on your leg joints and back. You will also be advised to stop smoking (as this may be an independent cause of back pain), so you should take extra care to prevent the weight gain that often follows.

During Pregnancy:

During pregnancy your center of gravity will gradually move forward as your uterus and baby grow, which causes your posture to change. Your developing pregnancy and baby create additional weight that your back must support. Stress usually finds the weak spot in the body, and because of the changes in your pelvic area, you may experience an increase in back pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.

Relief:

Pain relief is obtained by interfering with pain signals to the brain and by causing the release of natural painkillers (called endorphins). Pharmacological interventions for the relief of LBP include acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), topical analgesics, muscle relaxants, opioids, corticosteroids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. A German team found almost half the patients treated with acupuncture felt pain relief. Hot or cold packs may bring temporary relief but don’t fix the cause.

Treatments:

Treatment options range from basic rest, ice or heat and gradually resuming activity to medication, exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture and surgery. Not all treatments work for all conditions or for all individuals with the same condition, and many find that they need to try several treatment options to determine what works best for them.

Therapy:

Additional treatments have been more recently reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Massage therapy may benefit some patients. A meta-analysis of studies by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that heat therapy can reduce symptoms of acute and sub-acute low-back pain. The study found that injection therapy, usually with corticosteroids, does not appear to help regardless of whether the injection is facet joint, epidural or a local injection.

Exercise:

Many people find relief from back pain through stretching exercises or alternative therapies like yoga, but chronic back pain may require medication and more intensive treatment. Evidence suggests that the best way to prevent bouts of back pain is simply to keep active, and to exercise regularly.

About the Author:

Another in the ‘By The Doc’ series - an expert guide to the causes and remedies for Back Pain. Learn how to avoid Back Pain, what causes it and the available remedies. Always seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner.