Tag: Back Issues

Common Back Injuries and How to Treat Them

In a world where sitting at a desk for countless hours is the norm for many, back pain is a common issue which many of us face in our day to day life. It is usually easily treatable; unless the situation is more severe.

 

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What is Back Pain?

Back Pain is the broad term used for many injuries and conditions, from minor ailments to more serious underlying issues. Tense muscles can cause pain, along with sporting injuries and day to day accidents.

Why Not Ignore Back Injuries

Back injuries can be excruciating and debilitating, making it difficult to perform even the simplest tasks. Unfortunately, many people ignore their back pain, thinking it will disappear. This is not only a bad idea but can also worsen the condition.  A chiropractor is trained to treat back injuries and can help you find relief from your pain. Chiropractors use various techniques to treat back injuries, including spinal manipulation, massage, and physiotherapy. They can also advise how to prevent further damage and improve your overall health. If you’re dealing with back pain, here are four reasons why you should never ignore it:

It Could Be a Serious Condition

While many back aches and pains are nothing more than muscle strains that will heal on their own, some can be indicative of a more severe problem. For example, sharp pain in the lower back could signify a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. If you ignore these conditions, they will only worsen and could eventually lead to paralysis.

It Could Get Worse

Even if your back pain is not indicative of a severe condition, ignoring it will only make it worse. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more damage will be done to your muscles, ligaments, and discs. This can lead to chronic pain that persists for months or even years.

It Will Affect Your Quality of Life

Back pain can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, such as walking, sitting, standing, and lifting. This can interfere with your work, social life, and ability to take care of yourself. Ignoring your back pain will make it harder to live an everyday, active life.

It Could Lead to Depression

Chronic pain can affect your mental health, leading to depression and anxiety. If you’re already dealing with back pain, ignoring it will only worsen it. Seek treatment for your back pain to start living a happier, healthier life. 

Types of Back Pain

The most common two types of back injury are:

-Spondylolisthesis

-Cervical Radiculopathy

Spondylolisthesis is when a vertebra slips in the spine; this can lead to aches, pains and some loss of feeling in the lower back as the vertebra slips backward causing strain on the spinal cord. This type of injury is one in which it is advisable to visit a spine surgeon, as they will be able to secure the vertebra back in place.

Cervical Radiculopathy occurs when a vertebra compresses in the cervical region of the spine, causing strain on the spinal cord and nerve damage to the lower back, neck, arms and even shoulders.

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How To Treat Them

The treatment of back pain depends on the type and severity of the injury. If you seem to have pain in your lower back after a day of sitting at your desk, it may be worth looking into improving your posture. There are many different exercises you can do to loosen up the back and alleviate pain, and yoga is an excellent example of a natural way to cure back pain.

Of course, if the injury is a little more severe, you need to visit a back expert and get a full examination from them. After diagnosis, you may be prescribed painkillers such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen. These medicines will help alleviate symptoms and allow you to move around without too much discomfort as your back heals.

Physical therapy is another method of treatment which will include gentle hip and neck movements to free up tension in muscles and help to push vertebrae back into a comfortable position.

In extreme cases, patients may have to have an epidural, which is where a pain killer is injected directly into the spine. And of course, there are surgical procedures required for more severe injuries which put a strain on the spinal cord. A procedure called decompressive laminectomy can be carried out which widens the spinal canal to allow more room for the spinal cord and decrease chances of paralysis. If you are unlucky enough to suffer from a slipped disc, you will have to undergo minor surgery where a doctor will remove part of the disc in question to take pressure away from the spinal cord and restore nerve function.

Prevent Back Pain

You can avoid back problems by living an active, healthy lifestyle and exercising it regularly. If you work in a job which requires heavy lifting, always remember to follow the health and safety instructions and bend from the knee, not the hip. This will take the strain away from your back and allow for the safe lifting of objects.

Curing Back Pain The Natural Way

As we get older and age, back pain will seem to be an everyday occurrence. Sure, there are certain medications that can greatly ease the pain and, if the need be, your doctor might even refer you for surgery. However, some people try to stay away from these options as they prefer to take the more natural route. Not sure how you can heal your back pain naturally? Here are some great methods.

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See A Back Expert

It’s a good idea to get some medical attention if you do experience regular back pain. Don’t worry, though, they won’t insist that you take medication or have surgery. Find a chiropractor near you if you want to chat about your various options. Let them know that you would prefer some natural remedies. They will be able to incorporate this into their treatment method. If they are unable to, they will be able to refer you to a local acupuncture specialist or other holistic practitioners.

Take Yoga Or Pilates Classes

Lots of people swear by Yoga and Pilates when it comes to back pain. So, it’s worth looking for a local class to see if there are any classes at times that suit you. After a few weeks of practicing Yoga or Pilates, you will certainly find a big improvement in your back. If you don’t have time to go to a full hour class, you can check online guides such as this one for stretches you can do on your own at home and also do some dumbbell neck exercises

Work Your Core

One reason why some people suffer from constant back pain is that their core is quite weak. Thankfully, this is very easy to change as you just need to start doing some exercises and workouts that will help strengthen it. If you are going to Yoga or Pilates, this should help, but there are also some other workouts that are great for core strengthening. These include Metafit and Piloxing.

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Use Heat Therapy

If you need some instant relief from your back pain, you should consider heat therapy. This is very easy to apply yourself at home – you just need a hot water bottle or a bag of frozen peas! Place the bag of frozen peas on any area of pain if you also want to reduce any inflammation. The cold temperature will also shut down the nerves, so you shouldn’t feel quite as much pain. Applying heat also acts as a painkiller, and it also increases the blood flow which can help to bring more nutrients to the affected area.

Work Your Brain 

Some back experts believe that you won’t feel quite as much pain if your brain is stimulated and busy. So, it’s worth trying to occupy yourself to see if you can distract your brain away from the pain. Why not give it a try next time your back hurts?!

So, as you can see, there are many alternatives to medicine and surgery when it comes to back pain. Hopefully, this blog post will help you manage any uncomfortable aches and pains!

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