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Chronic Back Pain Alternatives
Chronic back pain is a generic term for pain that can occur in any part of the (yes you guessed it) back. There are a multitude of possible causes including problems with joints, vertebrae, the discs between vertebrae, muscles, nerves, bones, or any combination of the above. In my clients' experience, I would say unfortunately, that rarely is any specific cause identified. While it is certainly possible to have short-lived, acute discomfort due to injury or strain, we are concerned here with chronic back pain. It can be intermittent, but for most people it is a constant grind. Pain may be felt in one specific place, but frequently radiates down into the extremities. This often happens when there is a damaged or bulging disc in the spine that puts pressure on a nerve. The irritated nerve will signal pain from anywhere (and sometimes everywhere) along its length. That's how an injury to the back can result in pain in a leg or even a foot. One example of how this works is in sciatica. Get more information from this article on Sciatica Pain Relief. Back pain is one of the top reasons for people going to see their doctor; unfortunately, it is also probably one of the top reasons for dissatisfaction with medical care. It is the rare individual who does not have at least a few incidences of back pain in their life.
To get the latest updates on new developments in pain management alternatives, subscribe to The Chronic Pain Update, our monthly e-zine. Alternative Treatments for Back PainThere are a number of alternative treatments for back pain that have been supported by research. For more details, read this article on Alternative Medicine for Back Pain.You May Need Immediate Medical Care If...Every person with back pain should visit a doctor, particularly when the pain is of quick onset. There are, however some situations that may indicate particularly serious medical problems:1) If back pain is bad enough to cause you to wake up at night after you've gone to sleep; 2) Back pain that occurs after a trauma such as a fall or accident; 3) Back pain accompanied by incontinence; 4) Back pain in people with osteoporosis or other conditions that put you at risk for easy fractures. If you're reading this, it may well be that you've already been to the doctor more times than you wanted to go, with less results than you'd like. You may even have been to a series of doctors looking for a solution. The good news is, hopefully you've at least ruled out some of the more potentially serious medical conditions. The bad news is, it still hurts and you're not sure what to do about it. Well, read on and let's see what ideas we can come up with! Potential Causes of Back PainPulled or strained muscles are commonly identified as the cause of chronic back pain. In other cases, the pain is assumed to be the result of mechanical imbalances in the body, causing contracture of muscles and pressure on nerves, resulting in pain. As long as the imbalance exists, you will continue to have pain.In lumbar disc herniation, the cushioning disc between the vertebrae herniates or bulges, causing pressure on the nerves entering and leaving the spine. In degenerative disc disease, the disc harden and begin to fall apart, resulting again in pain and stiffness. A related condition involving disc degeneration is called
spondylosis, and is discussed in detail here.
Treatment of Back PainAs with any type of chronic pain, the treatment of chronic back pain is not cut and dried. I hate to use the words trial and error, but there is more than a grain of truth to that characterization. It is important to realize that you'll likely need a combination of treatments to get maximal relief. If you're lucky enough to be able to tolerate pain medicine, and find a doctor who'll prescribe it, then you'll need to be familiar with the basics on medication for back pain. Even if you're getting some relief from medication, you're likely to benefit even more if you combine it with one or more alternative treatments for back pain. Remember that your goal is management of your pain, not an elusive, fantasy cure.By management I mean get the most reduction in the intensity of your discomfort as soon as possible, but more importantly, to increase your ability to function as well as you can in your day-to-day activities. I'll be honest, it is likely that there will be some residual pain at times, and you'll need to know how to cope with that. One of the keys to management of chronic back pain is a well thought out exercise program. I discuss details on how to develop an exercise program on the
Back Pain and Exercise page.
Sleep Problems and Chronic PainBack pain can cause specific problems with sleep, which in turn can exacerbate your pain, as well as problems like depression that go along with chronic pain. Take a look at the Sleep and Back Pain page for ideas on improving the quality and quantity of your sleep.Other Complications of Chronic Back PainThere's an entire page that deals with the issue of Complications of Chronic Pain, and I encourage you to check it out. Let me say that in my experience, my clients with chronic back pain are particularly vulnerable to depression related to their discomfort, as well as to many of the other economic and social complications of pain. The person with back pain, no matter how debilitating, may "look just fine" to other people, who can't understand why they aren't able to work or engage in particular recreational activities. This also makes it difficult for people to get needed treatment, any type of diagnosis, or help from social programs like workman's compensation or disability.Chronic Back Pain Online InformationThere are a lot of sites with questionable information, or a strong bias toward just one kind of treatment. Here at Chronic Pain Alternatives, we try to guide you toward resources with quality information that can really help.One site I really like is The Lower Back Pain Toolkit, which has excellent information on lower back pain, including some specific stretching and strengthening exercises. Can I Keep Acute Pain from Becoming Chronic?Acute pain still serves a warning function, and in the case of back pain it may just be warning you that you need to make some changes. This page has specific ideas on back pain prevention.Chronic Back and Leg PainIf you have certain conditions, you may have leg as well as back pain. This may suggest some specific types of problems, and for some people, more involved types of treatment. Read more about this at the Chronic Back and Leg Pain page.Upper Back and Lower Back Pain - Any Difference?Upper and lower back pain share some features, but are also different in some ways. Check here for new guidelines on treatment of chronic lower back pain.Return from Chronic Back Pain to the Chronic Pain Alternatives Home Page
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