7 Tips to Help Control Chronic Back Pain and Improve Spine Health
Some estimates suggest that back pain affects around 31 million Americans at some point in their lives. Needless to say, experiencing severe pain in your spine can limit the activities you carry out and greatly reduce your life quality, regardless of the lifestyle you live.
Orthopedic physicians say back pain can come as a result of accidents, diseases that cause inflammation, and even mental health conditions. Although some are able to manage their pain through different methods, most people are constantly looking for ways to help reduce chronic back pain and improve their spine health.
Below, we’ll go over a few tips that may help control recurring backaches and potentially improve the overall health of your spine.
Chronic Back Pain By the Numbers
Chronic back pain affects people of all ages, genders, and races, making it one of the most common reasons for medical consultations. As a matter of fact, backaches account for almost 265 million lost workdays every year, which translates to almost $100 billion in missed revenue across the country.
Despite the fact that chronic backaches account for billions of dollars in lost profits, about 56% of people who suffer from painful episodes choose not to get treatment from a doctor. But, given the fact that stress, weak muscles, and spinal disc issues are among the leading reasons behind back pain, consulting with a physician can be extremely beneficial for these folks.
Tips to Help Control Chronic Back Pain and Improve Spine Health
It’s important to understand that every case is different. Assuming that your aches are due to one single reason without ever seeing a professional can have catastrophic effects on your body.
In many cases, not addressing chronic pain as a whole can also worsen the symptoms and the condition which is causing it. The only way to find an effective and permanent solution is to find the source of the problem and create a plan to take care of it once and for all.
Here are a few general tips to help control chronic back pain and improve your overall spine health.
Consult with a Specialist
The very first thing you should do to improve your spine health is book an appointment with a healthcare professional. There are many different chronic back pain treatments available, but you need to identify the reason why you are experiencing discomfort in the first place.
The best way to find the root of the problem is to visit an orthopedic specialist in order to get examined and verify that the pain is not being caused by a severe condition.
Stretch Regularly
Stretching can help with two of the main causes of chronic back pain. First off, having tense back muscles can put a lot of pressure on your spine and potentially cause disc injuries. Stretching will help loosen up the muscles in your upper and lower back, which may reduce the painful episodes you’re experiencing.
At the same time, stretching has a relaxing effect on most folks, so you can help ameliorate stress-related backaches. Getting into a routine of stretching in the morning can be a great way to start the day, just make sure you don’t push yourself if your injury is too severe.
Exercise Your Core
Similarly to tension, having weak muscles that don’t support your spine properly can potentially cause back problems. To help prevent this issue, you should exercise your core, chest, and back muscles as these are the main groups that hold the weight of your organs and brace your spine as well.
If you are an athlete, having a strong core will help prevent sports-related injuries; but make sure you work with a therapist in order to strengthen these muscles in case you’re already experiencing discomfort.
Choose a Healthy Diet
Choosing a healthy diet can bring a number of benefits that include better skin, a healthier digestive tract, and even chronic back pain relief. Folks who are overweight commonly experience back pains because of the amount of mass their body has to carry.
Not only this, but certain foods cause an inflammatory response in the body. This, in turn, can cause chronic back pains. By opting for a balanced diet, you can help address backaches that are directly related to your weight or to the food you eat.
Consider Natural Alternatives
Opoid dependency is one of the biggest problems in the country and a lot of people forego treatment because they don’t want to develop an addiction. That said, there are many alternatives that can help control recurring backaches and ultimately improve your life quality without having to rely on pharmaceuticals.
Breakthroughs such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments may pose a viable alternative that helps reduce discomfort without relying on synthetic drugs. Exploring these alternatives is always a great option, but make sure you only work with physicians that have adequate credentials.
Maintain Good Posture
Keeping good posture may sound cliche, but it’s one of the best ways to maintain good spine health and keep aches to a minimum. Developing this habit may take some time depending on how good your posture currently is, but it can potentially reduce the intensity and frequency of the aching.
Don’t Push Through the Pain
As we mentioned before, the majority of folks that experience back pain chooses not to get treatment. These people often choose to continue their daily routine that includes commuting, working, and even regular exercising. Even if you can’t feel the pain all the time, there is a chance you’ll do more damage and make the pain more intense than it already is, so make sure you don’t push through the pain and seek medical attention right away.
Find an Orthopedic Physician You Can Trust
Living with chronic back pain may be challenging, but there are many different alternatives you can explore to maintain an active lifestyle with minimum aching. The tips above may help improve your spine health and potentially reduce the frequency and intensity of the backaches you’re experiencing.
Need to find a chronic back pain specialist? Get in touch with OPA Ortho and our team of physicians will be glad to help.
