We define Chronic back pain as lasting three months or more. It might come and go, providing short relief and then frustration. Dealing with persistent back pain is especially difficult if you don’t know what’s causing it.
Nearly 65 million Americans have recently experienced back discomfort. Some 16 million adults — or 8% of all adults — suffer from persistent or chronic back pain, limiting their daily activities. Back pain is the sixth most expensive medical problem in the United States.
Common Causes of Chronic Back Pain
The main cause of Chronic back pain is aging, but previous injuries can also be the reason. In general, the following factors contribute to the problem:
- Arthritis of the spine is a condition in which the cartilage in the spine gradually thins out
- Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal that may lead to nerve pain.
- The herniation or bulging of a disc can result in disc problems
- Myofascial pain syndrome is muscle pain and tenderness which you cannot explain.
Chronic back pain can be difficult to diagnose in some instances. “If your doctor has exhausted all diagnostic options,” Nava advises, “it’s time to get a second opinion from a back pain specialist.” They may not only not assist, but they may make the agony worse, cautions Nava.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Chronic Back Pain
- Physical Therapy
The core of chronic back pain treatment is exercise. It’s one of the first therapies you should undertake with the help of your doctor and a spine physical therapist. According to Nava, the same set of workouts does not work for everyone. Maintaining a home workout program is also critical to success.
You can treat chronic back pain with physical therapy in the following ways:- Posture retraining
- Tolerating pain to the limit
- Exercises that stretch and improve flexibility
- Exercises that are aerobic
- Strengthening the core
- Mindfulness and Meditation
Chronic back pain is both physically and emotionally taxing. You may be referred to a rehabilitation psychologist to help you deal with the frustration, impatience, sadness, and other psychological components of living with chronic pain. To keep your mind from focusing on pain, this physician may offer meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other cognitive and relaxation treatments. - Diet
Some diets, particularly those high in trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods, are extremely inflammatory. Consult your doctor to determine whether your diet is contributing to your persistent back pain and how you might change it. Maintaining a healthy weight may also help relieve back pain by relieving pressure on the spine. - Lifestyle Modifications
When suffering from chronic pain, it is critical to accept and adjust to your restrictions. “Listen to your body and learn to moderate yourself,” Nava advises. When mowing the yard, take a rest, and carry groceries in multiple trips. Take note of the activities that aggravate your discomfort and try to avoid them if at all possible. This may not only make your back feel better, but it may also prevent the underlying disease from worsening. Another crucial lifestyle modification to consider is quitting smoking. - Injection-based Treatments
For chronic back pain, nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, nerve ablations, and other injection-based therapies are offered. When the source of the pain is understood, they can sometimes help rule out particular causes if the treatment fails. Injections may temporarily relieve or reduce pain, but they are not meant to be long-term remedies and should not be taken in isolation. - Alternative Treatments
Chronic back pain can benefit from acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, and other nonsurgical spine treatments. Consult your spine specialist about other treatments that may be beneficial to you. - Pharmacologic Treatments
Chronic back pain can be managed with analgesics, anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxants, and other treatments. Most, however, have undesirable side effects and are not meant for long-term usage.- Many of them are addictive and do not treat the root cause of your discomfort. Opioids should only be provided after a complete examination by a professional and after all other medications have failed to offer relief. If you are reliant on opioids to get through the day, it is time to seek a second viewpoint.
- Trigger Point Systems
The Trigger Point Rocker is a curved gadget that goes beneath your back to target pressure points, hence alleviating neck and back pain. The Trigger Point Rocker can immediately relieve pain caused by tense muscles by targeting trigger points. The Trigger Point Rocker is a doctor-recommended item that has raised $1.6 million on Kickstarter. The device has received 95% positive feedback. Trigger Point Rocker can help you save $5,000 in annual physical therapy fees in the United States. A physical therapist created the Trigger Point Rocker. That physical therapist intended to provide patients with identical pain reduction benefits as they did in his clinic, but without the requirement for an appointment. Anyone can now get pain relief at home after just 10 minutes of utilising the Trigger Point Rocker.
Conclusion
Thus, these were the most effective ways of relieving chronic back pain. Our bet is on the Trigger Point Rocker as it has very good reviews and it is affordable and highly effective.