5 Tips for Treating Chronic Back Pain

While millions of people suffer from chronic back pain, there’s no easy cure. Some people even feel that their condition is hopeless and live in constant and debilitating pain. In this article, we’ll discuss six ways to treat chronic back pain. But first, let’s look at what causes chronic back pain.

What Causes Chronic Back Pain?

Back pain is one of the most common health issues. It affects 80 million people a year. It’s most common in people between the ages of 20 and 40. But, it also affects older people. Particularly people who have had back injuries or surgeries.

Here are some causes of chronic back pain.

Herniated Disc

This is a common cause of chronic back pain. It occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc surrounded by tough cartilage ruptures and pushes through the fibrous outer layer. This rupture can cause pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms or legs.

Muscle Strain or Injury

Muscle strain is a common cause of back pain in older people.

Osteoarthritis

Aging causes your cartilage to deteriorate. It puts more pressure on your vertebrae. Osteoarthritis can also cause your bones to rub together, leading to chronic pain.

Kidney Problems

Kidney stones can cause chronic back pain.

Ways of Treating Chronic Back Pain

Watch Your Diet

The first thing you should do is watch your diet. Cutting out fat and sugar can help. But, you shouldn’t expect the pounds to fall off right away. If you’ve been eating a fast-food diet, start by eating healthier — or, at least, less-fatty foods.

Usually, changes in the diet are enough. A highly fatty diet can increase your risk of chronic back pain. And, a diet low in calcium can make it harder to get rid of back pain. So, ensure your diet is rich in calcium for stronger bones.

Tip #1: Herniated Disc Treatment

The pain from a herniated disc can be intense, and the condition can be debilitating. It can make walking or sitting difficult. Also, simple daily tasks, such as preparing dinner, can be a challenge.

Herniated disc treatment depends on the extent of the disc rupture. The rupture could be small, and physical therapy might be all you need. Also, this rupture could be severe, and surgery may be necessary to repair the disc.

Usually, the recommended surgery (discectomy) may have serious complications. They include infection, paralysis, nerve damage, and even death.

Fortunately, there’s an alternative — a non-surgical treatment called spinal decompression therapy.

Tip #2: Lifestyle Modifications

The simplest thing you can do to treat back pain is to change the way you live. Sitting for long periods causes back pain. The less you sit, the better off you’ll be. It doesn’t mean you need to spend all your time standing.

For instance, walking is better than sitting as it strengthens your muscles. Also, if your back hurts, you need to stop doing things that cause it. Avoid lifting heavy objects, straining to reach things on high shelves, twisting, bending, and sitting in an awkward posture.

Tip #3: Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care focuses on treating the person as a whole rather than focusing on symptoms. It’s suitable for people who have chronic conditions, like back pain.

A chiropractor uses a variety of techniques. They include spinal manipulation (a manual therapy) and massage to treat back pain. These treatments help improve alignment, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain and tension. Chiropractic care is an effective form of chronic back pain treatment.

Tip #4: Radiofrequency Ablation

It uses radio waves to create heat that destroys tissue, like fat. Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions. It means that it’s less traumatic, and you’ll heal faster.

Radiofrequency Ablation is an ideal treatment for chronic back pain as it’s effective and safe. Your local doctor or surgeon can discuss the specifics of the procedure with you.

Tip #5: Treatment by Injections

The most common treatments are injections of steroids and anesthetics into the painful disc or joints. The steroid injection provides short-term relief from chronic pain. The anesthetic injection provides pain relief and nerve block. It reduces chronic pain from the affected spinal nerves.

Do You Experience Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than 12 weeks. It can be acute, such as from a recent injury. Also, it can be chronic pain, such as from a medical condition.

It’s important to treat chronic pain. Chronic pain is associated with an increased risk of other problems, such as depression and a higher likelihood of disability.