Chronic Back Pain Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life
Do you feel as if your chronic back pain has locked you out of your own life? If so, you are certainly not alone. Approximately 80 percent of Americans have experienced (or will experience) back pain at some point.
This nagging, excruciating symptom can be caused by a variety of underlying causes, in some cases worsening day by day until you can hardly move at all.
Chronic back pain can make it difficult to complete the numerous daily tasks that you need or want to perform. Even when you’re not doing anything, your back pain could be making you unhappy. This sensation is incredibly frustrating, and it’s understandable to search high and low for a solution.
However, one common “solution” to back pain (prescription drugs) can actually cause more problems than it solves.
And you may be hesitant to subject your back to the risks of major surgery. The good news is that thanks to physical therapy, you may not need to go to such lengths.
A skilled physical therapist can regularly identify the source of your pain and develop a personalized treatment plan that does not involve any drugs or surgery.
What caused my back pain?
The majority of people, it appears, are no strangers to back pain. Low back pain, in particular, affects an estimated one-fourth of adults at some point in their lives. Many of these issues are related to acute injuries, such as those sustained in car accidents, sports accidents, or workplace injuries caused by improper lifting techniques.
The pain is supposed to fade away as these injuries heal. In other conditions, such as pregnancy, back pain disappears after the baby is born and the body returns to its normal weight and spinal alignment.
Back pain, however, can sometimes lead to chronic misery. Certain conditions, such as spinal arthritis, spondylolisthesis, or spinal stenosis, do not heal on their own, leaving you in constant or recurring pain.
Repetitive motion injuries and soft tissue strain can also cause chronic back pain. Poor workplace or sports ergonomics, weak back muscles that do not support a normal posture, or musculoskeletal irregularities such as fallen arches can cause ongoing pain in your upper or lower back.
Have you been more afraid of the treatment for your chronic back pain than the pain itself? Many back pain sufferers are understandably concerned about the prospect of taking a large number of painkillers, which may temporarily relieve their pain while causing their own long-term complications.
They may be even more afraid of undergoing major spinal surgery, such as vertebral fusion, a procedure that may limit your range of motion even further, prove completely ineffective against the pain, or even worsen the pain.
The following are some of the most common causes of chronic back pain:
- Bulging or herniated discs
- Chronic muscle strain from an unbalanced posture or weak back muscles
- Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis of the spine
- A narrowing of the spinal canal known as spinal stenosis
- An old back injury that failed to heal properly, leaving you with internal scarring and chronic stiffness
How can physical therapy help me?
Chronic back pain is defined as pain that persists for more than three months. It is a progressively worsening pain that can become aggravated with time and basic daily activities.
The underlying cause of back pain may be unknown. A person may simply not know what caused it or where it originated.
The smartest way to combat chronic back pain is to help your back function normally – and the smartest way to do that is through physical therapy.
Our physical therapist can determine the source of your upper or lower back pain, which could be anything from a degenerative condition to strained muscles or an unbalanced body.
You could benefit from a physical therapy program that includes the following components:
- Chiropractic adjustments can help to normalize your spinal alignment and improve the function of your spinal joints.
- Using cryotherapy and heat therapy in combination to relieve tissue pain and inflammation
- To soothe, warm, and relax tight muscles and connective tissues, use cold laser therapy and/or massage therapy.
- Changes in lifestyle to avoid unnecessary strain caused by an awkward workplace or sports ergonomics
- Stabilization exercises can help keep your spinal components in place as you go about your daily activities (from sitting in a chair to getting out of bed)
- Orthotics can be used to compensate for foot or leg imbalances that are putting strain on your muscles.
- Strengthening exercises to help you maintain a straighter posture and enjoy better spinal support.
- Flexibility exercises to gradually and carefully increase your pain-free range of motion
Start your path to pain relief today!
Make your back healthier to gain control over your chronic back pain. Contact Atta rehab today!
Sources
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet
https://ppsapta.org/marketing/blog/browse.cfm?recID=377104BB-5056-A04E-37A935F4A2208A1E
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/cause-chronic-pain
