Nearly 65 million Americans report suffering from lower back pain, and though intensive treatment or even surgery is needed in some cases, in most cases there is a lot you can do to manage the pain on your own. The pain is a signal from your body telling you that something is not right. Even though sometimes it seems out of your hands, there may be some practical solutions out there that will help reduce lower back pain. At a glance, here are the solutions this post will cover to help you manage your lower back pain:
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Yoga
- Chiropractic care
Our doctors at the Center for Spine Care in Dallas can help talk you through what are the best treatments available for your back pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy for back pain comes in two different forms: active exercises and passive pain management. Passive pain management physical therapy includes things like using hot and cold pads to reduce inflammation and curtail muscle spasms. When you are experiencing a period of increased back pain, applying a hot pad or an ice pack can help immediately alleviate some of the pain. Other passive pain management techniques are electrotherapy and iontophoresis (an extremely effective method of using electricity to send anti-inflammatory steroids under the skin).
Medication
Sometimes medication is the best choice for managing your lower back pain. The best medication for back pain relief depends on the type of back pain you have. Oftentimes, over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) are your best option. Tylenol is an anti-inflammatory drug that is effective at treating mild to moderate back pain. Other medication may be prescribed for more severe pain. Schedule an appointment to find out what medication would be best for your back pain.
Acupuncture
Whether you have chronic back pain or are just looking to get lower back pain relief for a recent injury, acupuncture is a treatment that has helped many people manage pain. Acupuncture essentially involves putting thin needles into strategic locations on your back, inducing muscle relaxation and increased blood flow.
Massage
Massage helps reduce back pain in a number of different ways. First, it helps increase blood flow and circulation to your back. This can help improve soreness and speed up recovery time. Second, it releases tension that you are holding in your muscles, improving flexibility and helping to alleviate your neck and back pain. Third, massages release endorphins into the body, improving your mood. And when your mood is better, your recovery time may actually be faster.
Yoga
Like massage, yoga helps you relax and increases flexibility. It also helps by bringing awareness to your body, which makes isolating and targeting specific regions of your back during careful stretching and other treatments easier. There are a number of back bending exercises that, when done with care, may help to reduce your lower back pain.
Chiropractic Care
Of the 22 million Americans who annually see a chiropractor, 35% of them are there because of back pain. Research has shown chiropractic to be an effective way to treat back and neck pain. Chiropractic care is most effective for people who have been experiencing pain for less than three months.
Start Taking Steps to Reduce Back Pain Now
Schedule an appointment to speak with one of our trained medical professionals to decide what treatments will best help you manage your lower back pain. We offer both conservative treatments and regenerative treatments, as well as injections and surgical procedures. Contact us today to learn more about how you can start getting back pain relief ASAP!
