Back pain is one of the most common aches or pains experienced by the average person. In many cases, taking rest breaks, using heat and cold therapy, and stretching might be enough to mitigate it. However, that’s not going to be the case for everyone. If you find that these kinds of methods aren’t working, it might be time to think about the options that go a little deeper.
Massage therapy
You might have already tried to address your back pain with massages you can carry out at one, with foam rollers and other such equipment. However, there is a lot of difference between the kind of massage you can give or receive from anyone and the kind of training that therapeutic massage therapy offers. Trained and licensed massage therapists have worked to develop techniques that are widely recommended for treating many different kinds of causes of back pain, such as muscle spasms, stiffness, inflammation, and tension.
Back injections
There are several injection-based treatments that are used on a regular basis to combat chronic back pain. This can include things like epidural spinal injections and nerve blocks, which are numbing medicines to reduce the symptoms of pain. These are typically used if a source or cause of the back pain has been pinpointed but other methods aren’t working as effectively. However, back injections aren’t usually recommended as a long-term approach, but rather as a way to manage the symptoms while considering other forms of treatment. Again, these are more effective for some types of back pain than for others.
The surgical approach
If your back pain is getting bad enough, then you might want to consider taking drastic action to combat it. While surgery is invasive, it can also be one of the most effective approaches. With the help of a neurosurgeon, you could tackle many of the potential causes of back pain, such as degenerative spine disease, spinal tumors, herniated disks, and so on. Which surgery works best for you and the potential outcomes vary on a case-by-case basis so it’s wise to look for a consultation before you make any decisions.
Biofeedback treatments
If the other approaches aren’t working but you’re not ready to go down the surgical route, yet, there are other alternative treatments. Some patients have been finding success with biofeedback. This technique involves controlling bodily functions with the mind by creating a conscious control over certain physical processes, such as muscle tension and breathing rate, which can affect your experience of back pain. This may not work for all causes of back pain, but for pain is created or exacerbated by tight muscles, some people have found it very effective when combined with other efforts such as lifestyle changes to reduce weight.
Back pain can get debilitating and can greatly affect your quality of life you’re not careful. You do have options, however. Talk to your doctor about the options outlined above to see which might be the best choice for your situation.
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