5 Effective Medical Treatments for Back Pain
Having a sore back can hinder you from carrying out your daily activities. If left untreated, back pain can worsen over time and even leave you unable to walk.
Nevertheless, here is a list of medical treatments that prove effective for relieving back pain.
1. Physical Therapy
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing back soreness. These causes, such as muscle spasms and spinal injuries and bodily anomalies, have different types of treatments.
Physical therapy entails a series of personalized exercises to treat or reduce severe back pain. A qualified physical therapist will train you to do the exercises correctly. Your physician and physical therapist will modify your routine to achieve maximum pain relief as time goes by. You will also be told what things you need to avoid to reduce pain flare-ups. The constant stretching and relaxation motions on the back increase muscle relaxation and alignment and may be the cure you need.
2. Medication and Injections
There are cases where therapy exercises don’t seem to get the job done. Then there is a need for a more practical approach, and in most cases, it is the use of medication as prescribed by your physician. If the pain is not as severe, you may want to take some over-the-counter pain relief medication, albeit in moderation. Muscle relaxers and topical pain relief management are also excellent options when back pain happens every once in a while.
Your doctor may prescribe more vital medication for more chronic backaches, such as antidepressants and opioids. There is also the option of having injections at the site of the pain. Interventional pain management services can include steroids, such as epidural and nerve blocks. These injections are the most common injection options for chronic lower backaches. Injections should be used sparingly and under a doctor’s discretion, as with all medication. It is important to note that all drugs have side effects and, as such, should be used in moderation.
3. Surgery
Even though not a standard treatment for back pain, surgery can be considered, especially if a herniated disk is causing the pain. The most common surgical solutions for chronic back pain include diskectomy, fusion, and artificial disk insert.
Seeing as back surgery carries a significant level of risk, it should be a last resort option. Patients with back pain causing poor control of bowels, neurological issues, and weakness of lower limbs are typically good candidates for back surgery.
4. Acupuncture and Chiropractic Treatment
Depending on the severity of the pain, you may want to opt for alternative procedures. Non-conventional therapies have been used for many years to offer back pain relief. The most common one is acupuncture, which involves rebalancing the energy points in the back using needles. People with back pain usually report having lesser pain after the treatment. Chiropractors are also known to help with soft tissue pain, such as in the lower back region.
Both acupuncture and chiropractic practices are recommended in conjunction with other medication or independently. Other treatment options such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound, and traction can be used where medicine is ineffective.
5. Other Treatments
Physical health will always work hand-in-hand with a proper diet and exercise routine. Your posture also needs to be correct to relieve back pain. While working on a computer, it is advised that you should not hunch over as this position is detrimental to your lower back’s health. Relief has also been experienced by patients who started doing yoga and Pilates for a few days a week. These exercises help to re-align and strengthen back muscles, which results in pain relief. Other exercises that involve the use of back muscles, such as aerobics and swimming, have been seen as effective methods of controlling and eliminating pain.
Nutrition also plays an essential role in reducing and managing pain. Foods rich in vitamin D and B12 encourage more muscular and healthier bones that become less prone to pain. When the back pain is not as severe, doctors advise using heat and ice. The heat and ice treatments work by increasing the movement of air and blood, reducing pain. It is also recommended that you get proper furniture such as chairs and mattresses that properly hold your back and maintain proper alignment as you sit or sleep.
In Summary
Back pain should not hinder you from enjoying certain pleasures of life. Talk to your doctor about which of the treatments options listed above will work for your type of back discomfort.
