Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience back pain disorders at some time in their lives. In fact, apart from upper respiratory infections, back pain is the second most common reason for absence from work and for hospital visits. If you experience back pain that lasts more than three months, it is considered chronic. It can be uncomfortable and cause you to be feeble, though it comes and goes.
Common Causes of Chronic Back Pain
Although chronic back pain is mostly associated with age. Back pain is a condition that can affect anyone. The cause can result from medical conditions, activity and injury. The three most common causes of back pain are strain, structural problems, and movement and posture.
1.Strain
Injury and tension of the muscle and bones are the common cause of back pain disorders. Examples include muscle tension, spasm, strained muscles or ligaments, bone fractures and falls. Muscle strains and spasms are associated with the heavy or improper lifting of objects. Sudden movements can also lead to muscle strain causing back pain.
2.Structural problems
Spinal disorders and back pain could also stem from a number of structural problems such as ruptured and bulging disks, arthritis, abnormal curvature of the spine, sciatica and osteoporosis. In addition, kidney problems can also result to back pain.
3.Movement and posture
Some of our daily life routines and activities can contribute to back pain. These include overstretching, muscle tension, straining the neck forward, twisting, standing and sitting for long periods, long driving sessions, and sleeping on a bad mattress.
Non-Invasive Treatments for Chronic Back Pain
Because back pain can result from a number of things, the best solution is to work with your doctor, possibly a chiropractor who’s more specialized in spinal disorder treatment. Here are common types of treatments for back pain disorders.
Physical Therapy
Chronic back pain can be well addressed by exercise and it’s one of the initial forms of treatment recommended by spine physical therapist. However, there aren’t any universal set of exercise for every patient with back pains. And that’s why it’s important for a physician to have custom exercises that meet your specific condition. You are also encouraged to maintain the exercise routine at home for better results and also to prevent back pain recurrence. Some of these exercises include aerobics, core strengthening, stretching and flexibility exercises, and retraining your posture.
Diet
Diet plays an important role in alleviating back pain. Some foods, especially trans fats and processed foods, are highly inflammatory. Proper diet can help you maintain a healthy weight which helps reduce pressure on your spine. Consult with your doctor to find what kind of foods to avoid and what to include in your diet plan.
Injection Therapy
Injection therapy is also a procedure widely used to treat back pain and commonly used when the source of the pain is known. There are several types of injection therapy which include nerve ablations, epidural steroid injection and nerve blocks. The injection can be administered into various of the spine either on the gaps between vertebrae, ligaments, nerve roots, muscles or trigger points. However, experts recommend not to use injection therapy in isolation because it’s intended purpose is short term alleviation of pain. This treatment is also ideal for people low back pain and it’s sometimes beneficial in ruling out other causes of back pain if the injection treatment in itself doesn’t work.
Meditation
Another form of treatment for back pain disorders is mindfulness and meditation. Experts say that chronic back pain is emotional as much as it is physical. Therefore, to manage the frustrations, depression and irritability caused by back pain, you might need to consult a spinal disorder rehabilitation psychologist. Here, you are taught how to deal psychologically deal with back pain by applying cognitive strategies such as meditation, yoga and tai chi. This helps you shift focus from the pain to something else.
Alternative Treatments
Back pain disorders can also be addressed using nonsurgical spine treatments such as laser therapy, massage, acupuncture, bio feed therapy and electrical nerve stimulation. Consult with your doctor on the best alternative treatments that can work for you.