Back Pain Relief - Getting Past the Pain

When a person has back pain, they are searching for relief. If you suffer from this trying condition, relax. Back pain relief can be found. Today, many solutions exist to allow patients to get back into a routine of living with a healthy back. The back is an amazing engineering wonder that can be so strong and flexible. When you view your back in this way, in a positive light, it can bring you more joy than pain.

It's the muscles of your back that determine the health of your spine. That means that keeping your back muscles strong, flexible and balanced is the key to receiving back pain relief. Because so many millions of Americans are looking for back pain relief, it seems that it is a condition that has no cure. Some of the realities of why so many have troublesome backs are lack of appropriate exercise, a sedentary lifestyle and no energy to change current prescribed therapies to revive the back. Stretching, targeted massage and range of motion exercises, however, have shown to offer all sorts of back pain relief. In addition, a healthy diet, stress management and exercise can show you that your back can be healthy. Combined with the advice of your physician and any medications, you can find back pain relief.

Getting Past the Pain

Pain is a healthy protective response your body uses to tell you that something isn't quite right in the body. It tells you that an area needs checking out and fixing. Pain tells us that we need to take care of ourselves. When a pain receptor is activated, it sends a signal to the brain that an injury or other problem has occurred. Most of the pain receptors in the back are located in muscle tissue. When a muscle is strained, overworked or injured, or possibly spasming and knotted due to tension, you are made aware of it with the impulses sent to the brain. If you are not made aware of it because your brain is too busy at the time, the pain may show up later when you are not expecting it. When the pain lasts longer than three days and prevents you from conducting your normal daily activities, you should see a doctor for diagnosis. Much can be obtained when a good doctor takes a careful history of the onset of the problem, the characteristics of the problem, reflexes and pinprick tests, and a few simple pushing, pulling or stretching exercises. When the pain is something you have encountered before, that is when you may use some of the techniques below for back pain relief.

Attend to those Muscles

Because 95% of lower back pain reported is "nonspecific," that is, not related to serious underlying medical conditions such as disease, infections or fractures, muscles are the first place considered for back pain relief. Muscles don't start to hurt for no reason, so something must be causing that pain. Reducing the pain is the first step. Over-the-counter pain reducers and anti-inflammatory medications are very helpful to take the edge off of an injury. Next, the physical damage should be addressed. Rest of the back is important, and should be situated in a comfortable position for 2-3 days. Ice is a great back pain relief when used with caution. No more than 20 minutes at a time, every other hour. After the third day, heat may be applied, again, no more that 20 minutes once every two hours. During this period, it is important to not remain immobile. This can cause stiffness and lengthen recovery. Slowly moving the back in normal positions such as sitting upright, standing and slight twisting if tolerated is recommended. Deep massage and designated exercises to pinpoint the pain are necessary to get the back into pain free living. Targeted massage will disrupt the adhesions and chemical bonds that hold the back muscles in pain. Depending on your condition, specific exercises will stretch and rebuild the muscles causing pain that produce pain-blocking impulses. Back supports are also designed to hold your back in position and support your back as you recover.

Many books have been published that outline both massage and stretching techniques for back pain relief. Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi all emphasize control of the body while stretching and building muscles at the same time. Other non-invasive techniques for back pain relief include physical therapy, rehabilitation and sports medicine, which all emphasize a core strength of the back and abdomen to strengthen those muscles. The exercises learned in this therapy must be followed after the sessions to maintain a pain-free back.

More Serious Conditions

Sometimes back pain can come from more serious conditions. If you have suffered recent trauma, have a history of osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes or kidney complications, or have pain that is worse when lying down or at night, have bowel or bladder issues or unexplained fever or weight loss or gain, you must seek back pain relief from a qualified medical professional. The good news is that less than two percent of neck and back pain complaints are attributable to a serious cause.

If you suffer from chronic back or neck pain, the Spine Center at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial offers back and neck pain relief. http://www.TalkBacktoPain.com

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