Back pain relief is imperative for living a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is lower back pain, middle back pain or upper back and shoulder pain, imbalance is created and can be a huge detriment to one’s life. While occasional back pain caused by a muscle strain or over exercise can heal eventually with rest, ice and heat and massage, those suffering from chronic pain (lasting more than three months) should seek assistance from a qualified physician to diagnose and offer remedies for pain relief. When non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, Tylenol and Aleve do not provide relief, this may mean that the cause of the pain is in the joints or a pinched nerve, and may require more advanced treatment. Some simple steps may help an individual who is suffering from this pain.
Back Pain Relief at Work
Eliminating the symptoms that cause the pain is a good first step. Your work environment may be causing some of your back pain. If you are sitting all day, assure that you have proper posture, and get up and walk for approximately five minutes every hour. Also, after checking your posture, dip your chin to your chest and then your chin back to the ceiling three times every hour to eliminate or alleviate neck pain. If your chair is the problem, consider investing in an ergonomic chair that supports healthy posture.
If you stand at work during the day, wear appropriate shoes that support your arch, and purchase orthotics if you prefer to wear stylish shoes. If you are standing at one position for long periods of time, lift one leg or another onto a block or stationary item. Lifting one foot eases the tension from the lower back. Again, taking an hourly walk will adjust your spine as well. These suggestions of course will also work if an individual is at home all day. Resting a back in pain by sitting on the couch or lying in bed too much may cause more stiffness and further the pain.
Back Pain Relief from a Physician
A physician is available to help diagnose the pain problem further. The diagnosis will determine what type of back pain relief is best. While stronger pain medications may be prescribed, the drugs merely treat the symptom and not the root cause, and thus the problem is not solved. Until the issue can be addressed, the medication may be taken. To diagnose the problem, An MRI, CT scan or even x-rays may be taken to view the back, and these will be carefully studied to determine what the problem may be. Discography is another method used to determine if the pain is caused by spinal discs. It could be a strained muscle, a muscle that is impinging on a nerve, a miss-aligned spinal column, a slipped or ruptured disc or even a congenital defect that’s never been diagnosed.
The pain relief treatment itself may come in the form of physical therapy to re-align the back, an injection or pain block on an irritated nerve, radiofrequency, spinal cord stimulation and sometimes even dekompressor discography. Surgery is rarely an option for back pain relief, but when it is, it has received thoughtful analysis on the physician’s part.