Back pain can be quite a nuisance, but it doesn’t have to cause you to miss work or your daily activities. In fact, many sufferers shrug mild symptoms as nothing more than a minor injury. However, about 80% of people will endure at least one chronic episode of back pain in their lifetimes, so it is important to analyze the pain and identify the most effective treatment method.
You may experience pain in various areas of the back. The most common areas are the lumbar region. You may feel pain in your shoulders and neck, or even lower back.
If you have pain in these areas, however, it may be a sign that there is some type of injury or strain in your lower back, hip flexors or pelvis. It is important to see your doctor so that they can assess your condition and prescribe the best course of treatment possible.
There are many different types of treatment options for back pain relief like target spinal release exercises already mentioned on our site. Your doctor may recommend pain medications to help alleviate the symptoms of your back pain, but they cannot provide treatment for the cause.
If your pain is caused by a serious injury, you may need to seek out physical therapy and rehabilitation to fully heal yourself.
Here’s a nice stretch to do sitting on a chair that can relieve pressure on your back after a long day at work, especially after sitting for long periods of time.
Common treatment methods for back pain include pain relievers, chiropractic treatment, exercise and physiotherapy. Pain relievers are typically prescribed for short periods of time, and the duration of your use of the medication is decided by the doctor who prescribes it.
Often they are taken only when you first notice any noticeable pain or discomfort. Many pain relievers, however, are not particularly effective, especially when compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), which are usually prescribed for chronic conditions. These medications often result in increased use and dependancy, leading to a vicious cycle of addiction and drug use.
Chiropractic adjustment focuses on using your body in ways to fix itself rather than just masking the symptoms of an injury. Chiropractors believe that the nervous system is responsible for the way we perceive pain and they believe that a change in your body structure or function can allow you to better cope with pain by correcting these imbalances.
In fact, this theory was shown to have positive results by a study conducted by scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
The Problem With Chiropractors
The problem I have with chiropractors is that it is almost like going to the doctors. First they manipulate, then they tell you to come back for an assessment. Then they manipulate again, and they may even provide you some exercises to do at home.
Then you have to go back several days later.
It’s expensive.
Chiropractic visits can be like going to the doctors sometimes. They prescribe you some course of medicine or in their case manipulation, massage or even acupuncture (really, what gives?) and you go off home to experiment with it to see if it work.
If it doesn’t they prescribe you something else. It can go on this way back and forth and miss the mark quite a long way until something works. Sometimes the problems gets easier or goes away by itself.
My chiropractor began sticking acupuncture needles in my back one session. Not agreeing with all the ancient tie ins to mystic healing energies and black magic (yes I’m a christian and proud) I was wondering what the heck are you doing now. It was just throw everything at the wall to see if something sticks.
I was repeatedly going back for return visits and in reality I was getting nowhere. I still had the same lower back pain, and in reality I knew I had to figure out for myself what to do about it.
Learn How to Diagnose & treat the Pain
That’s when I got interested in mobility and learning how to diagnose back pain. And not just back pain. Elbow pain, neck pain, knee, shoulder, hamstring pain. I spent a small fortune on mobility books and courses and spent endless hours scouring the internet and YouTube.
I quickly leaned I sit too much and it was wrecking my posture. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week so exercise or inactivity wasn’t the problem. But I wasn’t doing anything particular to strengthen my hip flexors, protect my back, or to increase my mobility.
One of the immediate home runs I scored was finding a program that dealt with stiff hips. You might even be doing some of the mobility drills now inside your gym routine as the upsurgence in mobility training on Youtube and among sports coaches has gone through the roof.
I’m glad though I bought Unlock Your Hip Flexors as it provided a roadmap through the endless minefield of mobility information for me and saved me a colossal bill on chiropractors and pain relief gel and protective lumbar equipment.
If you want to avoid pain from back pain, you should try to keep yourself as active as possible. A lot of activity will make the spine less rigid and less likely to experience injury.
If you are overweight, being overweight will add pressure on your back. Lifting weights is another excellent way to prevent further damage to the back. Just be sure you know how to deadlift and squat properly as these can be spine crushers.
You should also wear a belt when lifting heavy especially if you have back problems, as lifting things incorrectly can cause more damage to the spine. Some people say wearing a belt all the time weakens the back, but if you already have an injury I would wear one.
All a belt does in pull the midsection together and allow you to push out your abdomen against the belt in heavy lifts, which in theory can protect the spine. A belt won’t help you from lifting way more than you can handle with poor form though, so be wary it’s not a lifesaver jacket.
There are times of course when you need to seek medical help. I had a MRI scan and it displayed I have lower disk degeneration. At least I now know what is causing the issue. It reminds me to lift with correct form and keep my hip flexors loose and strong with my stretching and mobility drills.
If you can’t diagnose the pain or if you have an injury or strain a qualified health care provider can assess your situation and offer you the best treatment plan based on your specific case. For example, if your pain is caused by a muscle strain, they can help you strengthen the muscles around your back to relieve any strain on the muscles and discs.
If the pain is caused by a disc herniation, they can recommend spinal decompression surgery to reduce the amount of pressure on your spinal nerves. They can also assist you with pain management and physical therapy, and even help you manage your pain during the recovery process.
If you have a disk herniation for instance the last thing you should do is mobility exercises or try to fix the problem yourself. Disorders like these below usually require the services and knowledge of a healthcare professional.
Scoliosis Disorder
Although in most cases the cause of scoliosis is not known, there is strong evidence to suggest that scoliosis disorder is genetic as a third of patients have it as a result from their parents gene pool. Scoliosis produces a sideways curvature of the spine and can even occur as a result from herniated disks.
Scoliosis affects about 1% of the population who have spinal cord injuries. The primary complication associated with this disorder is vertebral instability and herniation. This may result to spinal cord impingement that is known as Cri du Chat syndrome.
People who have had spinal cord injury for any reason will usually undergo physical therapy to rehabilitate them. If surgery isn’t yet being considered, scoliotic adult disorders will probably be treated with manual therapy. However, if a patient has been diagnosed with this disorder, the doctor will then recommend surgery as a last resort.
During surgery, the surgeon will make an incision at the base of the spinal column in order to treat the damaged nerve roots and the spinal cord. After the surgery, the patient will have a craniotomy or herniation. This procedure may either be done on an outpatient basis or in a surgical setting where special sedation will be administered.
When a patient is diagnosed with scoliosis disorder, treatment will differ depending on the underlying condition. In the majority of cases, patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury will receive a series of neurosurgery procedures. The surgery will then remove the affected nerve roots.
Patients with degenerative disc disorders will be given spinal decompression therapy. A device is then inserted under the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid in order to increase the pressure of the nerves and to alleviate symptoms of scoliosis disease.
Patients who have suffered an injury to the lumbar region will have their abdominals decompressed during the recovery period. An abdominoplasty may also be performed in order to improve muscle strength and mobility.
A full body brace may also be placed on patients suffering from scoliosis disorder. The patient may also require physical therapy sessions to rehabilitate their bodies.
Physical therapy also includes the use of massaging devices that are used to massage the affected muscles. The purpose of these devices is to improve circulation. Massage can also be utilized to relieve pain. In addition to massage, exercises are also often used in physical therapy to improve the strength of patients’ abdominals.
If scoliotic adult disorder is the main issue, surgery may be recommended for patients who are experiencing significant problems with their spinal cords. However, patients with minor conditions that do not involve injury will likely be able to receive effective treatment without undergoing surgery.
When a patient has reached adulthood and has recovered from scoliotic disorder, the problem of disc herniation will begin to subside. This will occur if the damaged nerves begin to heal without scarring.
With age, scar tissue builds up on the nerves that is why the nerves are unable to transmit information to the brain. This can lead to symptoms such as weakness and difficulty speaking or walking.
While undergoing physical therapy, the therapist will teach the patient how to walk again. They will also work with patients to improve strength in their abdominals. as well as how to maintain proper body alignment. In most cases, a brace will be placed on the affected area to stabilize the abdominal region. and improve balance.
Treatment should be continued for at least six months in order to see improvement. Physical therapy and medication may also be required in cases where the patient is experiencing severe symptoms. If scoliosis persists, it may be necessary to undergo surgery. In some cases, the patient may need to undergo a surgical procedure called a caesarean section.
Medications such as Lidocaine and epidural steroid injections may be used in the case of an epidural steroid injection for spinal decompression. This is sometimes recommended when patients experience severe symptoms of scoliosis. In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to correct the problem completely.
Sciatica
Sciatica, also known as lumbar radiculopathy, is a painful sensation that originates from along the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back through your buttock to your lower leg.
This nerve is the longest nerve in the body, and it’s also the biggest. When it’s stretched beyond its normal limits, sciatica can cause severe pain in several different areas of your body, including your buttocks and thighs, lower back, hip, and knee.
Many people who experience sciatica also have numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in any of these areas.
There are many causes of sciatica. In fact, there are so many causes of sciatica, it’s actually hard to figure out which ones are actually causing the pain. The main cause of sciatica is actually caused by too much pressure on your lower back. This pressure can come from several different sources. Here are a few of them.
Lumbar disc herniation. This is when the nucleus of the disc between the vertebrae in the lumbar region ruptures, causing internal disc damage. This damage can result in severe inflammation and excruciating pain. Lumbar disc herniation is one of the leading causes of sciatica.
Herniated discs can occur to anyone through injury or wear and tear. They tend to occur more often in older people. You probably know someone who has suffered from herniated discs.
Even though herniated discs are fairly common, they don’t tend to go away easily. The good news is that herniated discs can be treated quite well, although your doctor may recommend surgery for this purpose.
Nerve damage or injury can also cause sciatica. One of the most common causes of sciatica is the pinched nerve in the lower back. This nerve goes all the way up to the buttocks. When your nerve becomes pinched, this causes severe pain in your lower back.
Discs can also bulge out from your spine, causing severe pressure and pain in your back. Spinal Stenosis can also occur when the cartilage between your vertebrae becomes damaged. This occurs when the bone between your vertebrae is not strong enough to protect the discs that are inside of it.
In the case of spondylosis (type of arthritis which occurs after disk degeneration), this causes nerve pain and function of the spine.
Sciatica isn’t actually caused by anything wrong with your spine. Spinal stenosis is often misdiagnosed as a symptom of a slipped disc or herniated disc. The symptoms of spondylosis are similar to those of sciatica – pain, numbness, tingling, and/or weakness. However, there is no clear cut reason why someone would have to suffer from sciatica.
In order to treat sciatica, you first need to understand the anatomy of your sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve begins at the bottom of your buttocks, runs down your back, and ends near the top of your thighs. It is about 16-20mm long and is made up of over ten thousand nerve fibers. The nerve runs along the inner walls of your spinal canal.
Sciatica can also be caused by a pinched nerve, spondylosis, or another condition, such as spinal stenosis. These conditions can cause extreme pain in the back, lower back, or buttocks.
Surgery is often recommended when your condition is caused by disc damage. or other type of damage, such as a spinal stenosis, however, you can try a few simple things before going under the knife. One way is to strengthen your discs and muscles in order to reduce the pain.
Muscle relaxants can be used in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve sciatica pain. You can also use a hot compress to ease the discomfort from muscle spasms.
Ice packs are sometimes used, too. If sciatica only affects your buttocks, you should check with your doctor if this method of treating is right for you. If your pain is on and off, there are other more permanent methods to consider, such as physical therapy and stretches.