Treating and preventing back pain

Having trouble with your back? Learn the best methods to treat your aching back and keep the pain away for good.

If you're one of the millions of Americans that suffers through back pain every single day, you know how it can affect your life. In fact, back pain is one of the biggest problems for the average working American and one of the leading causes of time missed on the job. However, there are ways to treat back pain. You just need to know what works best for you. Here are 14 of the most popular back pain treatments as well as pros and cons for each form of treatment.

Spinal decompression

PROS: Spinal decompression is a process by which a machine is used to remove pressure on the spinal nerves caused by any misalignment in the back.

CONS: There are several different forms of decompression, but most include the use of machines that are too expensive for the average consumer. Therefore, you must visit a doctor to receive decompression and you will likely need a number of visits to see results. Some studies have also suggested that decompression is not viewed as a long-term solution to back pain.

Physical Therapy

PROS: Physical therapy often involves strengthening the muscles in the back and the abdominal muscles in order to decrease pain in the back.
CONS: This method often takes time to work and back pain can actually limit the amount of physical activity you can do. Additionally, physical therapy is usually not the best option for someone suffering with a real ailment, such as a herniated disc or nerve damage in the spine.

Chiropractic Care

PROS: A chiropractor is trained to help realign the spine and diagnose any potential problems in the back area. He or she is also able to readjust the neck and relive any tension or pressure being put on the vertebrae in the back.

CONS: While some people argue that chiropractics don't work effectively over the long term, it can be used to produce almost immediate results or diagnose larger problems. But it is often not covered by health insurance and can become costly for those looking for relief.

Massage Therapy

PROS: Unlike a chiropractor, a massage therapist is trained to help soothe the aching muscles in the back. If you believe you have back pain, especially lower back pain, due to strenuous exercise or some type of activity that caused the pain, a massage can help relive it temporarily and start the healing process.

CONS: Focusing on the muscles in the back will be of no use to someone suffering with pain caused by nerve damage, misalignment or most ailments caused by anything other than stress or exercise.

Cortisone Injections

PROS: Used by many athletes, cortisone injections provide immediate relief and help ease back pain right away so that you can get on with your life without any pain.

CONS: For one, they are temporary. Cortisone shots also only work to mask a larger problem and do nothing to cure back pain. Rather, they allow you to get back to work or maintain some normalcy in life. But if you fail to get the larger problem fixed, back pain will return.

Prolotherapy

PROS: If you have torn ligaments or muscles in your back, prolotherapy involves getting a single shot to help further the healing process in your back and reduce pain.

CONS: Prolotherapy does not necessarily ease your aching back right away, but rather, it speeds along healing. Currently, there are not many studies that show that this process is always effective and you also need to be sure you're dealing with a doctor who specializes in prolotherapy.

Understanding back pain better

Have you ever wondered why back pain is so prevalent in this country? This video explains how back pain happens and what happens to your body in  order to cause it.

Video:

Blood pH Levels and Pain

PROS: Though not as common, an unbalanced pH level in your blood could be the cause of chronic back pain. If you've tried other methods and been unsuccessful, try speaking with your doctor about getting your pH tested. By neutralizing it, you could eliminate the need for any treatment at all.

CONS: This method probably ranks low on the list of most doctors because most forms of back pain occur as the result of activity or because so many Americans are confined to a chair to work all day long.

NSAIDs

PROS: Many people have back pain as the result of inflammation in the lower back. It doesn't always have to do with the spine. This can be a quick and easy way to relieve pain as the most basic form of a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) is ibuprofen, which can be purchased for just a few dollars.

CONS: If you experience back pain periodically, popping a NSAID will usually do the trick. But if you've been injured and now suffer back pain, you likely have a more serious ailment and NSAID will not be the cure.

Mind Body Techniques

PROS: The truth is that most back pain is the result of stress, which can be soothed by breathing exercises, yoga, and other forms of simple techniques to help ease your pain. There are a variety of books on the subject that you can buy for just a few dollars to help learn techniques to ease back pain quickly and keep it away for good.

CONS: Again, if you're suffering through real pain caused by an accident, mind-body techniques will likely only help but so much. While there is a real connection between the two, you'll likely need a physician's care for anything that involves the spine or the muscles in the back.

Muscle Balance Therapy

`PROS: Everything from the way you sit to the way you stand affects the muscles in your abdominal region, obliques (sides) and back. You may have some muscles that are strong and others that are weak. By balancing them out, you can feel the difference and relieve tightness and pain in your back.
CONS: This is simply not a long-term solution. Though this can help in the long run, if you're seeking immediate relief, you should look elsewhere. Still, it can be used with some other form of treatment to seek relief.

Nutrition and Supplements

PROS: It's easy! Talk with your doctor about which nutrients and supplements you can take that are effective for back pain at your age.

CONS: This method is usually good for preemptively avoiding muscle pain in the back or for helping rebuild the back after a different method. It is not something that will help cure you immediately and will give you almost no relief when used alone.

Back Surgery

PROS: Though intrusive, back surgery is usually the only sure way for a doctor to cure you of back pain by going in and repairing the portion of your back that needs fixing.

CONS: It can be very expensive and doesn't always ensure that your back pain won't return. For instance, if your weight has caused your spine to shift out of alignment and given you pain or you've slipped a disc in your back during a workout, a doctor can fix it. But if you continue to gain weight or work out improperly, there's a good chance back pain will return to your life.

A more scientific explanation of back pain

To fully understand back pain, you need to know the muscles that cause it. This clip takes a look at some of the parts of the body that influence back pain.

Video:

Stretching and Exercises

PROS: You don't need a gym membership to do it. Do some research and find out good exercises to do to keep your back in top shape. Because your back and spine are such integral parts of your body, it will involve strengthening muscles throughout the body.

CONS: Like some of the other methods, this works best to prevent back pain, not necessarily to cure it. However, if you've had back surgery recently or tried one of the other methods with some success, this can help keep the pain away for good.

Trigger Point Therapy

PROS: There are certain points in your back that may be causing you pain. By locating these points and inactivating them, you can stop back pain effectively. It could be that easy.

CONS: Unless you're a trained doctor or chiropractor or know what to look for, you're going to have trouble finding the trigger points on your body.

Start treating your back today

The longer you wait to start getting treatment on your back, the worse off you could be. By trying a treatment today, you could avoid missing any days at work, get back to playing with your kids again or simply be able to get a full night's sleep without tossing and turning because of back pain. It's important to remember that not all treatment works on all patients so be flexible and open to trying new things. Additionally, you may need to use multiple methods to maximize your results. Don't get discouraged! Start looking forward to your future by taking care of your back now.