Chiropractor in Puyallup WA | Controlling Back Pain without Drugs
Back pain will affect 90% of adults in this country at some point during their life. It is one of the most commonly cited reasons for missed work, and is generally treatable without major intervention. Fortunately, surgery, once a common option for those with chronic back pain, has become the option of last resort. A better understanding of the causes of back injury and treatment has moved medicine away from a surgical approach to one that is more holistic in nature. Chronic versus Acute Back Pain – Most patients who deal with lower back pain have experienced the onset of pain in the past 24-48 hours. These people suffer from acute pain, typically brought on by some excessive use of their lower back. Weekend gardeners, over-enthusiastic gym attendees and folks that head out to shovel snow early in the season often fall into this category. Chronic back pain sufferers typically have months of pain that may be difficult to pinpoint. It is much more common to find people with herniated disks, stenosis and sciatica in this group. Fortunately, there are ways to treat both types of pain without the use of medication or while significantly minimizing drug usage. Exercise and Back Pain – In the past, when a patient would turn up experiencing back pain the doctor would send them straight to bed for several days or even weeks. Now we know that these periods of extended rest often make the situation worse. A day or two of taking it easy is all that is called for under most circumstances. Returning to activity is the best thing you can do for your back. Starting a physical therapy program as soon as possible is the next step. Your goal, and that of your therapist, is to strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. This will help prevent additional injuries to your back. Stretches, controlled muscular activities and massage can get you out of pain and back into your normal life. Studies Indicate Yoga is Beneficial – A recent large scale study showed that Yoga is of particular help to those who suffer from low back pain chronically. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group engaged in biweekly yoga classes of 90 minute durations. The other group received medications to control their pain. The study found that those who engaged in yoga showed lower levels of pain and depression while exhibiting greater flexibility and strength. They were also more content with their recovery. The patients in the control group treated with medications were less pleased with their results and suffered considerably higher levels of depression due to their discomfort. Improving the Outcome for Patients with Low Back Pain – For the best results when treating patients with low back pain, it is important to stress the use of exercise as a palliative option. In addition to prescribing anti-inflammatory medications at the outset, engaging in massage and chiropractic care, properly supervised exercise, such as Yoga, helps complete the picture of a back that heals quickly and stays well for the long term.
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