How To Treat Back Pain

Back pain is hard to define as there are many different symptoms that could indicate a back injury or problem has occurred. Some of the symptons include, but are not limited to, burning pain in the legs, numbness or weakness in the legs, throbbing pain in the back or legs, neck pain or muscle spasms. Other symptoms can include depression, anxiety or loss of energy. Oftentimes the exact origin of back pain cannot be pinpointed which makes trying to deal with the pain very frustrating.

There are a multitude of causes for back pain. Sometimes doctors are unable to pinpoint the exact cause of a patient's back pain. The most obvious cause would be an injury or trauma to the muscles and ligaments that surround the spine. One doctor explained it to me this way--"Your muscles and ligaments are there to protect your spine. When pain is introduced, the muscles and ligaments tighten up as a protective measure. The tightening can cause muscle spasms, which in turn will cause back pain. Then the muscles tighten up even more as a protective measure and the cycle continues."

Sometimes the disc material that cushions the space between your vertebrae will leak and bulge out causing a herniated disc or bulging disk that can press against the nerves and cause pain. Believe it or not, this type of back injury can actually cause excruciating pain to the sciatic nerve which runs down the back of your leg.

Other causes of back pain include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, genetics and even poor posture. One cause that is not often mentioned can be stress. Yes, stress can cause the muscles to tighten up and therefore begin the cycle of pain and discomfort.

When your back is hurting, all you can think about is getting some relief for that pain. There are a variety of methods used. First and foremost, you will want to get some bed rest, but do not get carried away. Many doctors feel that too much inactivity could be detrimental to your back's health. While resting in bed, you may also want to apply some heat or cold therapy. Some doctors believe that cold (ice or gel packs) should be initially to reduce inflammation while heat therapy applied later will increase blood flood to the injured area. Experiment and see which works best for you.

In addition to bed rest and heat/cold therapy, you should consider taking an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen.

If you're lucky enough to have a hot tub or spa, they can also provide some soothing water therapy that will help your tense muscles to relax.

If none of the above options relieve your back pain, then it may be time to consult a doctor. What kind of doctor, you may ask? Well, there are various options available. First, you may want to consult with your family physician and have them refer you to one of the following specialists.

An orthopedist specializes in problems of the skeletal system. These doctors can provide various injections to relieve pain as well as prescribe anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic medications

Chiropractors focus on the relationship of the spinal column, muscles and skeleton. Spinal manipulation may be involved in a chiropractor's course of treatment.

Another option may be to see an acupuncturist who will use mall needles to stimulate various points in the body, while an acupressure specialist will place pressure on certain points of the body to relieve pain.

Now that you've overcome the worst of the pain, what can you do to prevent another episode from occurring? Well, in most instances, you will be required to make several changes in your lifestyle.

Back Exercises--Yes, you must establish a routine of exercise that will strengthen the muscles in your back and your abdomen area. Some of the exercises that you might consider are walking, swimming, Pilates and recumbent bicycling. Start off slow and gradually work up to at least 30 minutes of activity per day.

Lose Excess Weight--Excess weight puts more pressure and strain on your back, so losing that excess weight should help your back feel better.

Improve Your Posture--Remember your mother telling you to "Stand up Straight" or "Don't Slouch!" Well, she was right. Poor posture can translate to back pain. So, work on that posture!