What to Do When You Encounter Back Pain
More than 65 million Americans suffer from back pain each year. It's by far the most common complaint from people seeking medical care.
Advances in medicine have created many treatment options for people looking back pain relief. Alternative treatments have increased in number and availability as well. However, there's still no"miracle cure" able to rid the world of back pain once and for all. Since the intensity, causes and specific conditions vary with each patient, you want to talk about treatment options with a health care professional so as to tailor treatment to your particular condition.
Patients have an almost daunting number of choices of medications, some of which alleviate not only back pain but decrease inflammation, muscle strain, and spasms too. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin, ibuprofen, and a multitude of prescription medicines. Taken regularly, these medications can significantly reduce inflammation and resulting back pain, and also provide back pain relief when taken during acute episodes. 1 common side effect of NSAIDs that needs to be taken into consideration is their propensity for causing gastrointestinal upset.
Acetaminophen comes in many over-the-counter medications. It acts as an analgesic, and is frequently utilized to treat acute pain. These medications can be taken alone or in combination with NSAIDs. Potential harmful side effects of acetaminophen include liver and kidney damage.
Doctors sometimes prescribe opioids or muscle relaxants for acute pain, but these medications can be habit-forming.
Acupuncture has been used in China for over 2,000 years and was first popularized in the United States in the 1970s. This ancient alternative to traditional'Western' medicine has received validation by research studies that have documented acupuncture's beneficial effects on patients, but many within the medical community are wary of relying too heavily on this kind of treatment, as modern medicine has not been able to fully explain how acupuncture works.
Another alternative treatment, chiropractic, is based on the understanding that a properly functioning nervous system is essential for good health. The spinal column is quite literally the'backbone' of the nervous system, because the spinal cord is encased inside , as well as nerve roots that branch out to the whole body. Chiropractors adjust the backbone of patients, aligning the vertebrae and adjusting stress-inducing imbalances.
Your physician may prescribe physical therapy, which helps patients build strength and increase flexibility. Physical therapy combines exercise with massage, heat/cold therapy, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.
It's essential that you understand what is causing your back pain so that you can find the perfect treatment for you. Your physician plays a crucial role in diagnosing and prescribing treatment for your condition, but so as to achieve the very best treatment, you should take an active role in your healthcare also.