How to get lower back pain relief

Your lower back is a combination of many bones and elements that are interconnected and overlapped. Doctors understand the complexity of the interplay of these bones and tissues. Usually the first we know about problems is when we receive pain in lower back.

There are many reasons for lower back pain. Some of them are mainly caused by poor posture due to excess body weight, physical strain of driving for hours every day, sitting in front of your computer at work during the day for long hours, straining your body by lifting heavy weights, and so on. But, let us face it, back pain is suffered by many, and we then search for the answer of how to get lower back pain relief?

Only a small percentage of people take preventive measures so that they do not get lower back pain. Chiropractors, doctors, and acupuncturists all have some answers to relief of lower back pain, but whatever treatment that is chosen, it needs to be continued on a regular basis.

 How To Get Lower Back Pain Relief

Erin, a 28-year-old graduate student, lives with chronic upper back problems. The pain is brutal sometimes, and her back locks up for no reason. She tried many different remedies and found that chiropractic care and acupuncture both work well. After a session of either, she feels immediate relief. Still, she must have regular treatment or her back will seize up again. Erin, who asked that her last name not be used, is far from alone – chronic back pain is one of the most common maladies affecting Americans. According to the American Academy of FamilyPhysicians, nine out of 10 people experience back pain during their lifetimes.

 

What Causes Back Pain?

 

Some sore backs result from a car accident or trying to pick up something heavy. Most common, however, is back pain arising from “the cumulative micro-trauma through years of living,” in the words of chiropractor, Matthew Lederer, in Wisconsin. Other experts echo those thoughts.

 

“In our culture, long hours in a car and seated at a desk are a recipe for eventual back problems,” said David Saum, an acupuncturist with Southview Acupuncture Clinic at South St. Paul, Minnesotta. “The most common causes of back pain are overwork and trauma – sometimes the first leads to the second.”

 

According to an overview of back pain from the National Institute of Health, the back is uniquely complicated. It is made up of dozens of bones, muscles, and nerves, all of which must be in harmony. A slight strain in one muscle or a slight misalignment between two bones can constrict a nerve causing back pain. Chiropractors such as Lederer take X-rays to ensure that patients’ spines are in need of realignment.

 

“What I see most often in the X-rays I take are spinal degeneration, osteoarthritis,

degenerative disc disease, or other conditions,” he said.

 

Treating the Pain

 

Surgery may be necessary for more serious cases of back pain, but Lederer emphasized that it is only an option after more conservative options have been exhausted. He cited a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed back surgery and certain exercise programs yield about the same results.

 

Manipulation from a chiropractor is a much less drastic method for helping resolve the imbalance that causes the pain. Chiropractors go through years of training to learn how to adjust joints enough to restore a normal range of motion. Spinal manipulation is often accompanied by the “pop” of air being moved from the joint, but it is not a full solution by itself. According to Lederer, “chiropractic care now and exercise later” is the best approach. He gives patients exercises to perform that will strengthen back muscles, and he also emphasizes the need for periodic adjustments.

 

Long-term Solutions

 

Of course, if your job is contributing to your back problems, then it may be necessary to change the conditions in which you work. “Most commonly, people do not realize the ergonomic measures they should be taking,” said Lederer. “People often wait until a problem emerges rather than doing preventative care.”

 

Your employer may offer an ergonomic assessment that can rearrange your workspace, and the adjustments can put your back in a better position. Ergonomics experts can teach you how to work in a way that does not strain your back. They can also give you equipment that lessens the strain on your body such as ergonomic mouse pads and keyboards. Good back health involves more than just sitting straight, even hand strain can contribute to back pain, and vice versa.

 

Full article

It is said that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ and how true that is for lower back pain. As this is a very common disorder, the symptoms, intensity and degree of pain differ from individual to individual. So, how to get lower back pain relief?

The answer to this question lies with the identification and proper diagnosis of the lower back pain cause that is the is the very first step towards getting relief for lower back pain. There are chiropractors who identify and fix the misplacement of a particular bone or muscle in the lower back, and then treat provide advice on exercises to follow. There are doctors who perform operations for acute cases. This would also be followed up with medication and exercises. An acupuncturist follows their own procedures.

Following an exercise regimen will be beneficial for weight loss and strengthening the back muscles and improving posture. While medical and holistic health treatments are always available for back pain, it is better to take preventive measures before you get the pain in the first place.

To get more information grab a copy of the free book we offer on this website. It has a heap of great tips to help you get rid of you back pain.