A recent report shows that almost 65 million people in this country have dealt with back pain. That’s a lot of people who don’t know how to address this problem. Back pain happens for various reasons, like work-related injuries or because you picked up something incorrectly. No matter the reason, the following are a few things you can do about chronic back pain.
Mindfulness
When pain is chronic, it’s hard to think about anything else. This could cause all sorts of problems, such as depression, frustration, and irritability. In other words, you won’t be a happy camper, but one thing you can do to try to solve this problem is mindfulness and meditation. These practices help you focus on something other than pain, which could make a difference. Keep in mind that this is only meant to make a difference if the pain is mild to moderate.
Physical Therapy
Chronic pain can be stressful. It’s not something you can simply ignore. What’s worse is that putting an ice/hot pack back there won’t make a long-lasting difference. Putting off relatively minor treatment in 2021 could mean major back surgery in 2022. Fortunately, there are many techniques you can learn and tools you can use to try to address your chronic pain. Physical therapists and spinal institutes can help with this. In fact, you may see a spinal doctor and learn your C6-C7 disc herniation does not need immediate surgery and can be treated with a lot of physical therapy. These folks are trained to teach you many things, like restoring your posture, which is vital. Bad posture only exasperates the issue by placing more pressure on your back. You’ll also learn some core-strengthening exercises, which should help create a stronger cushion against pain.
Massage
When someone is dealing with chronic pain and soreness, there could be other factors making things worse. Some of these factors could include poor blood flow, accumulated toxins, and accumulated waste concentrated on your back. Good blood flow helps remove toxins and waste, which should alleviate your chronic discomfort. One of the most effective ways to get blood pumping towards your back and help release some of those toxins and waste is to have a massage. Specialized rubbing and kneads can do wonders for your back. You won’t only feel better, but you’ll also feel relaxed because a good massage can do that for you. Try to talk to a few massage therapists until you find someone you feel comfortable with.
Dietary Changes
Food is supposed to be your friend. It’s supposed to provide nutrients and delight your taste buds, but if you’ve got chronic back pain, you’re going to have to rethink your food a bit. You could be making your body go through unnecessary inflammation. Popular foods people eat contain trans fats, refined sugars, and highly processed foods that trigger inflammation. When you have back pain, inflammation makes the pain worse by adding pressure to your spine. You don’t want that right now, and you don’t have to if you simply change your diet and remove those things mentioned. The good thing is that most of these changes mean you’re going to be eating healthier food, and that’s good for your health in general. If you need some help, talk to a dietitian to know how to make this transition.
Lifestyle Modifications
There are many things you could do in your day-to-day life that could be making your pain worse. For example, those who smoke need to remember that nicotine makes it harder for your body to heal and makes the pain you feel stronger. That’s not something you want, so try to stop smoking. If you happen to be the kind of person who puts pressure on your body and back too much, you need to stop. People may do this by carrying a lot of groceries in one trip or lifting weights improperly. This adds pressure and can make your chronic back pain worse. Only carry a few grocery bags at
a time, and use carts as much as possible. Avoid doing exercises that may overexert your body.
Now, you know what you can do to try to deal with the chronic back pain you’ve been dealing with. Talk to your doctor to see if there’s anything else you need to be doing to address your problem specifically.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
