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Can Fish Oil Help My Back?

Most Americans have dealt with some kind of back pain at one time or another. In fact, according to Medline Plus, roughly 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain at some point in the future. Symptoms of back pain depend on the source of your pain and its location on your spine. Poor lifting habits, working at a computer all day and a sedentary lifestyle can cause back pain. Whatever the cause, alternative treatments can help lubricate your joints and reduce your chances of experiencing back pain.

  1. Tests and Exams

    • Visit a spine specialist if you are experiencing back pain that continues beyond several days, is extremely painful or presents with other symptoms. A spine specialist will conduct a basic exam and ask questions. Your spine specialist will try to determine the root cause of your back pain and tailor a treatment plan to help you manage your pain and heal appropriately. Physical and neurological exams may also be necessary. Other tests, such as X-rays or an MRI, may be required to diagnose the root problem of your back pain.

    Fish Oil Supplements

    • Dr. Joseph Maroon, a specialist in degenerative spine disease and a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, found positive results for using fish oil to help treat chronic low-back and neck pain. Dr. Maroon stressed the importance of using safer alternatives to pain medications and made clear that conventional painkillers can have harmful side effects.

      Maroon gave 250 subjects a questionnaire to complete after they started fish oil supplementation to note any side effects and clinical improvements. The subjects were given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in addition to the fish oil supplements. For two weeks, participants consumed 2,400 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day. Each fish oil dose consisted of 850 mg EPA, 200 mg DHA, and contained 180 mg of other omega-3s.The fish oil supplementation lasted roughly 75 days, and 60 percent of respondents experienced less overall pain; 59 percent stopped taking their pain medicine. No side effects were mentioned, and 88 percent of the participants had a strong desire to keep using omega-rich fish oil supplements. Fish oil's omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have powerful anti-inflammatory activities that can lessen pain and inflammation.

      Overall, the results of the study show that omega-3 fatty acids are as effective as ibuprofen in decreasing back pain.

    Acupressure or Acupuncture

    • Other treatments exist to treat back pain. Both acupressure and acupuncture were developed in China. To heal your body, practitioners focus on unblocking your energy force, called Chi or Qi channels or meridians. Blocked Chi channels can cause illness, such as back pain. Fine needles are used in acupuncture. Acupressure practitioners use their fingers, elbows and thumbs to locate the exact Chi spots. Contact your alternative health practitioner for more information on how these therapies can help relieve your back pain.

    Massage

    • Some cases of back pain may result from overuse and muscle strain; therefore, massage therapy may help release tense muscles and diminish pain and muscle inflammation. Contact your local massage therapist for more information.

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