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Chronic Back Pain Treatment

If you are one of the millions of people living with chronic back pain, you may be overwhelmed with information on how to treat your symptoms. Everybody you talk to may give you a different story as to what helped them. There are options through traditional Western medicine as well as alternative therapies. Since back pain affects everyone differently, you may need to try several techniques to find the right one for you.

  1. Get the Correct Diagnosis

    • The first step is to have the cause of you back pain diagnosed. Until you know exactly what is causing you pain, it will be impossible to find the right treatment. The options for those with arthritis will be different for those with a herniated disk.

    Exercise and Yoga

    • No matter what the cause of your back pain, gentle and appropriate exercise will be a lifelong necessity. Keeping your muscles strong and flexible will help to take pressure off of your back. Different conditions cause chronic back pain, and all have specific movements that are contraindicated. Talk with your doctor first.

    Heat and Ice

    • Applying heat and ice can help you to get some relief from your back pain. Heat can help to increase blood flow which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the area, and it will promote healing. However, if your pain is from inflammation, ice is the better choice. It works as a natural analgesic and reduces swelling.

    Acupuncture

    • Acupuncture uses small needles that are placed at specific areas in the body to help restore the flow of Chi or Qi energy. While there is not enough research right now to prove it's benefits--or understand how it works--many chronic back pain sufferers find relief through this ancient technique.

    Surgery and Medication

    • For those with severe chronic pain, medications may be necessary to help you manage your symptoms. There are hundreds of different medications, and only you and your doctor can find the right one. If you are dealing with arthritic spinal changes or a bulging disk, surgery can remove the damage and relieve you of your pain.

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