Back pain is frequently caused by a small injury or excessive strain of the back muscles and can easily be treated with some medication and adequate rest. Chronic back pain, on the other hand, takes longer and often needs extensive treatment. It’s a common condition, with nearly 65 million Americans reportedly experiencing it in their lifetime. It is also known as one of the leading causes of disability.
There are no known single causes of back pain. It can vary depending on different instances and severeness, and it can even be an underlying cause of several factors. It can range from muscular strain sustained during hard lifting, an accident, a complication in bone structure, ruptured disks, arthritis, and even poor posture. Similarly, there is no “one-size-fits-all” therapy that will work for everyone.
Doctors may prescribe surgery to relieve persistent back pain in some cases, depending on the severity. However, it’s not usually recommended right away due to risks and costs. Thus, doctors suggest equally effective treatments, such as physical therapy, and other alternatives before weighing the chances of undergoing such an operation.
Here are some non-surgical alternative treatments for back pain.
Chiropractic Treatment
Also known as spinal manipulation, chiropractors adjust, massage, or stimulate the spine using their hands. Although chiropractic treatment is less effective than medication and other therapies, researchers reported a positive success rate and an overall improvement from patients with acute low-back pain associated with chiropractic treatment.
Minor adverse effects, such as soreness in the affected region, usually go away after one to two days. Other than that, serious and severe side effects are uncommon when a licensed chiropractor performs spinal manipulation. Thus, make sure to consult and carry out the treatment with trained and licensed professionals only.
Traditional Treatment
An integral part of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a type of treatment that uses needles to stimulate the body. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic illness and chronic pain. An analysis of systematic reviews shows how it could help people with persistent low back pain regain function and alleviate discomfort. Additionally, a meta-analysis discovered that this type of treatment gives effective alleviation for chronic pain that may last an extended period.
Because acupuncture is typically explored after more traditional therapies have failed, most people are astonished at how beneficial this centuries-old technique can be. If you decide to explore this option, ensure that you seek treatment at a licensed acupuncture therapy clinic to reap its optimal benefit.
Losing Weight
Our muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work hard to maintain the body’s structure while we do various and often strenuous movements. The unwanted weight on our body adds pressure on the backbone and strain on the muscles, resulting to back discomfort. One research found an association of obesity with high levels of low back pain and impairment in males.
If being overweight is a significant factor in your back pain, losing weight can help relieve part or all of your back discomfort. If you find it hard to do so, working with a doctor or a trainer can help you develop a dietary plan and exercises to help you healthily achieve your ideal weight.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
Studies have indicated that greater levels of inflammation are linked to specific forms of chronic pain. A variety of factors contribute to such, and following anti-inflammatory eating habits is one strategy to help reduce it. For example, specific diets, particularly sugary and processed meals, can exacerbate and promote inflammation.
Thus, consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, specific nuts, fish and other seafood, and whole grains will help you reduce inflammation in the body. People suffering from back pain benefit from a diet that emphasizes natural foods while reducing processed foods containing trans fats and sugar.
Posture Correction
For some people, poor posture can be the source of their back discomfort. Thus, making efforts to rectify it provides relief. This situation is true among adolescents with low back discomfort, as studies show proof linking it to poor posture. Researchers discovered that individuals who underwent an eight-week posture-correcting exercise program experienced alleviation from back and shoulder discomfort.
To address the issue, you can use wearable gadgets that gently tug the shoulders back and assist in adjusting your posture. In some situations, a person’s workplace would also need to be redesigned, as a workstation lacking good ergonomics contributes to poor posture.
Even though back pain affects millions of individuals, doctors do not adhere to a strict benchmark when determining if surgery is required. If noninvasive therapies, home cures, and medicine have failed to relieve back pain, a person may want to talk to their doctor about surgical alternatives. Other than that, exploring your options and conducting thorough research on which treatment or therapy best suits you should be on top of your priorities.
