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Back Pain Treatment
Remedies for Back Pain
Relief
The quest for effective
back pain relief
has thrown up some challenges in the modern world.
As we move through the early years of the new century, the
pace of life is becoming ever more frantic. With every
passing day, there seems to be more to do than there ever
was before. At the same time, there is little doubt that the
pressure of modern life is likely to keep on increasing
rather than falling away and allowing us to relax in the way
that we would probably all like to.
Because life is becoming ever
more frantic and stressful, there can be little doubt that
the stresses and strains on your body are also increasing on
a daily basis. It is little surprise that so many people are
plagued with constant niggles, aches and pains. Indeed, some
unfortunate people are forced to suffer their pain in
silence, trying to live a life that is as normal as
possible.
Of course, because most people
do not find themselves in this situation, they probably give
very little thought or perhaps no thought at all to the
pummeling that their body takes daily. That is likely to
continue until some kind of body pain hits, and from that
point on, pain becomes a very real and important
consideration in their life.
Some forms of pain are less
serious than others, and many types of pain will come and
go. However, not all pain complaints can be so easily
dismissed and amongst those that are most commonly felt and
painfully endured is back pain.
It is estimated that between
50 million and 80 million US citizens suffer from chronic
pain (defined as a pain that has lasted for more than six
months), and that this costs over $100 billion in social
costs every year.
Back pain is one of the most
common reasons for people visiting their doctor or medical
practitioner. Indeed, it has been estimated that as many as
four out of every five people in the world will have to
consult a medical professional at some point in their lives
with a back pain problem.
Acupuncture
A study conducted at Sheffield University in the United
Kingdom looked at the long-term symptom reduction and
economic benefits of acupuncture for persistent low back
pain. An average of 8 acupuncture treatments were given to
159 people, while 80 people received usual care instead.
After one year, people receiving acupuncture had reduced
pain and reported a significant reduction in worry about
their pain compared to the usual care group. After two
years, the acupuncture group was significantly more likely
to report that the past year had been pain-free. They were
less likely to use medication for pain relief.
How does acupuncture work? According to traditional
Chinese medicine, pain results from blocked energy along
energy pathways of the body, which are unblocked when
acupuncture needles are inserted along these invisible
pathways.
A scientific explanation is that acupuncture releases
natural pain-relieving opioids, sends signals that calm the
sympathetic nervous system, and releases neurochemicals and
hormones.
An acupuncture treatment generally costs between $60 and
$120. Acupuncture is tax-deductible (it's considered a
medical expense) and some insurance plans pay for
acupuncture.
If you want to try acupuncture, plan on going one to three
times a week for several weeks initially.
Vitamin D
Chronic muscle pain can be a symptom of vitamin D
deficiency. Vitamin D is found in fish with small bones,
fortified milk and cereal, and exposure to sunlight.
Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency are:
- darker pigmented skin (e.g. Hispanic, African
American, Asian) does not convert UV rays efficiently to
vitamin D
- digestive disorders, such as celiac disease
- use of glucocorticoid medications for conditions
such as lung diseases and allergies
- minimal sun exposure (elderly, institutionalized,
homebound, veiled or heavily-clothed individuals)
- latitude and season - for example, people in Boston
do not produce vitamin D from sun exposure between
November and February
A study by the University of Minnesota looked at the
prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 150 people with
chronic musculoskeletal pain. Researchers found that 93% of
patients had vitamin D deficiency. All people with darker
pigmented skin (African American, East African, Hispanic,
and Native American origin) had vitamin D deficiency.
Another interesting finding was that the majority of
people with severe vitamin D deficiency were under 30 years
of age. Season was not a significant factor.
The researchers concluded that all people with
persistent, non-specific musculoskeletal pain should be
screened for vitamin D deficiency.
Yoga for Back Pain
Yoga creates balance in the body through various poses
that develop flexibility and strength. A study of people
with chronic mild low back pain compared Iyengar yoga to
back education. After 16 weeks, there was a significant
reduction in pain intensity, disability, and reliance on
pain medication in the yoga group. Benefits were also seen
at three month follow up assessments.
Another study compared yoga, conventional exercise, and a
self care book for people with chronic low back pain. Back
function in the yoga group was superior to the book and
exercise groups at 12 weeks. Although there was no
difference in symptoms at 12 weeks, at 26 weeks, the yoga
group was superior to the book group.
Bowen Therapy
Bowen therapy is a type of gentle bodywork that was
developed in Australia by osteopath Tom Bowen (1916-1982).
Bowen therapy is more widely used in Australia and Europe,
but it has been growing in popularity in North America.
Bowen therapists use a series of specialized "moves" using
their fingers and thumbs. The moves typically involve the
therapist pulling the skin slack away from the muscle,
applying pressure, and then quickly releasing the tension.
These moves are performed on precise areas of muscles where
special receptors are located. Nerve impulses are sent to
the brain, resulting in muscle relaxation and reduction of
pain.
The moves are not continuous - the therapist allows the
client to rest for a few minutes between each move. A
typical treatment is between 30 to 40 minutes.
Breathing Techniques
Breathing techniques that make use of the mind-body
connection have been found to reduce pain. These techniques
integrate body awareness, breathing, movement, and
meditation. What's great about breathing techniques is that
you can do them yourself at home at no cost.
One study compared 6-8 weeks (12 sessions) of breath therapy
to physical therapy. Patients improved significantly with
breath therapy. Changes in standard low back pain measures
of pain and disability were comparable to those resulting
from high quality, extended physical therapy. Breath therapy
was found to be safe. Other benefits of breath therapy were
improved coping skills and new insight into the effect of
stress on the body.
Massage Therapy
When many people have back aches and pain, the first thing
they think of is massage. Studies have found that massage
may be effective for subacute and chronic pain. It has also
been found to reduce anxiety and depression associated with
chronic pain. Massage therapy is the most popular therapy
for low back pain during pregnancy.
Chiropractic
Back pain is one of most common reasons people see a
chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic use chiropractic
spinal manipulation to restore joint mobility. They manually
apply a controlled force to joints that have become
restricted by muscle injury, strain, inflammation, and pain.
Manipulation is believed to relieve pain and muscle
tightness and encourage healing.
A study published in the Spine Journal examined
manipulations compared to simulated manipulations in 102
people with back pain and/or radiating pain. The researchers
found that active manipulations were more effective at
reducing acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy addresses damaged ligaments (bands of
connective tissue that help keep bones attached to each
other) to relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain.
How does it work? Tendons and ligaments in the back often do
not heal completely after injury. Bones of the spine become
less stable, which can lead to chronic pain.
Prolotherapy involves the injection of a liquid solution
into soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons. This
triggers local inflammation and triggers the body's natural
healing response which repairs the weakened soft tissues and
relieves pain. Unlike drugs, prolotherapy is thought to
address the underlying problem.
After locating the areas that require treatment, the doctor
inserts a thin needle with the solution into the area. There
is often mild pain, but it can be reduced by using a local
anaesthetic. A typical course of treatment is 10 to 25
sessions for back pain. Since it is believed to repair the
joint, no other treatment is necessary.
Preliminary studies have found that back pain, which often
involves ligament injury, responds particularly well to
prolotherapy. It is the position of the American Association
of Orthopaedic Medicine that prolotherapy is a safe and
effective therapy for the treatment of selected cases of low
back pain and other chronic myofascial pain syndromes.
Prolotherapy injections must be administered by a medical
doctor (M.D.), osteopath (D.O.) or by a state-licensed
naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in certain states.
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