Having Difficulty with Back Pain Issues?

It’s not easy trying to navigate from one day to the next when you have to endure chronic back pain. If you find yourself having to do exactly that, you have likely come to the conclusion that the quality of your life is being compromised.

If you are like so many other people who have to deal with chronic back pain, you likely understand that using pain medication is not really a viable option. After all, it might expose you to the potential of a pain medication addiction. It might leave you with less physical pain but a lot more mental/emotional turmoil in your life.

Before you go thinking that back surgery is a viable option, you might want to talk to people who have had major back surgeries. There is evidence some people get little benefit from surgery and sometimes end up worse off.

Here’s a thought. You might be better off trying to figure out how to deal with your back pain issues without medication or medical intervention.

Assuming you would be interested in non-medical ways to address, and perhaps one day fix, your back pain issues, here are four suggestions that could be worthy of your consideration.

Physical Therapy

There is always a possibility that your chronic back pain issues are being aggravated by strength issues in your core muscle groups in the back and stomach. If that’s the case, you would be amazed at how much you could benefit from physical therapy froma licensed therapist.

A physical therapist could help you in two ways. First, they could teach more about your body and how the bones and muscles work together to keep you in good stead. With that in mind, they can teach you things like standing/sitting/walking with better posture and how to properly bend and lift things up in a way that keeps you safe.

The other thing they can do is work with you to develop an exercise therapy program that will help strengthen core muscles in your back, chest, and stomach. The premise behind good physical therapy to strengthen core muscles is the strengthening of these muscle groups will help stabilize your skeletal system. And this would likely result in much less pain.

Meditation and Yoga

If you’re interested in a more holistic approach to dealing with your back pain issues, you might find meditation and yoga exercises more to your liking. There is nothing intrusive about either of these options. They only require a small investment of your time and a willingness to practice on a regular basis.

With meditation, you learn how to relax both your mind and body through breathing exercises. As your muscles relax in your core regions, it helps relieve the tension and physical stress around your spine and neck. Less tension and physical stress will almost always lead to less pain because your joints won’t be getting pulled out of alignment.

As for yoga, there are lots of good yoga exercises that target the back and neck. The secret to practicing yoga to address back issues is learning how stretching exercises can alleviate the pain. You would want to start with easy yoga for lower back pain and eventually work up to a more comprehensive yoga exercise program as your body gets stronger. Over time, you would learn that yoga not only helps stretch muscles but also helps to strengthen muscles.

For lower back pain issues, focus on yoga exercises that target your lower spine, hips, and neck. Keep in mind, if your chronic pain is caused by severe stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column) or degenerative joint disease, the effectiveness of yoga to address related pain issues could be limited in these circumstances.

Visit a Chiropractor

Yes, visiting a chiropractor does touch the limits of medical intervention but only barely. A good licensed chiropractor would start your treatment process with X-rays to determine the location and extent of your back/neck pain issues. Once they have a target, they would work on your spine and joints to help realign your skeletal system. As long as you aren’t suffering from some kind of hidden medical condition, and depending on the underlying cause of your pain, a few adjustments might be enough to remove your pain now and perhaps forever.

Lifestyle Changes

If your pain issues are being caused by muscle or bone issues, there is a chance you can improve your health and lessen your pain with a few lifestyle changes. For example, it can be possible to lessen your experience of chronic pain with a healthier diet, regular exercise plan, and better sleeping habits.

If you want to pursue this option, you would be well-advised to speak with your doctor. It is always better to confirm that your pain issues are not related to some significant underlying medical problem. Once your doctor gives you the green light, they could also help you create a plan for a healthier lifestyle.

To benefit from lifestyle changes to address pain issues, commitment and consistency are key. Once you develop a diet and/or exercise programs that alleviate your pain and make you feel healthier, you would want to commit to these programs as a regular part of your life.

Ultimately, using any combination of these four options under medical supervision will likely yield the most benefit. It’s the kind of situation where you might have to use trial and error to figure out what works best for you and your lifestyle. Before you get started on any major changes to address chronic back pain, you should visit your primary care physician - if only to identify the source of your pain and ensure any lifestyle changes are healthy and balanced for you. As long as you are not suffering from any significant medical issues, it is likely that any of the above options or a combination of these will help in reducing the impact of chronic pain on your life and bring you some relief from your pain.