With age, our bodies go through drastic changes which can deteriorate our overall health. These changes make us more vulnerable and hurt us in ways we cannot imagine. The most common of these changes endured by many people is back pain. The worst thing is that the majority of the people affected do not know about proper back pain treatment.
Back pain can get worse if not consulted with the right pain management doctor and treated on time. It can potentially cause your posture to slouch and hinder your ability to rest either while sitting or lying down. As per Harvard Health’s recent study, around 80% of Americans face back pain at some point in their lives, both men and women.
We will walk you through the process of how an expert pain management doctor helps with back pain relief through the use of medications and prescribing best practices, home remedies, lifestyle changes, and prevention tips.
Back Pain Symptoms
Before addressing back pain efficiently, you need to understand its symptoms. Back pain can start in a number of ways. It can range from slow and dull pain to a sharp and unbearable ache. Common symptoms can include:
- A continuous discomfort in your lower back area causes uneasiness for you.
- Having limited flexibility when you try to bend or twist your upper body.
- Muscles get stiff or tight. For instance, getting a hamstring in the back.
- Feeling some pain that is running down to the tailbone and/or legs.
- Feeling uncomfortable while you stand, sit, or lie down.
These symptoms can also vary based on the main reason for the pain. Identifying these as the pain starts can help you get immediate back pain relief.
Common Treatments Used by Pain Management Doctors
There are several ways through which a pain management doctor helps with back pain. From natural pain relief solutions like lifestyle changes and home remedies to medications and therapies, here are the ways pain management doctors help with back pain relief.
Medications
Medications are still the most common method for back pain relief. Pain management doctors prescribe a variety of medications/painkillers to reduce or eliminate back pain. For instance, painkillers like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are over-the-counter medications that reduce inflammation in your back and relieve mild to moderate pain.
Moreover, pain doctors also prescribe muscle relaxants, opioid-based painkillers, or topical treatments like creams, gels, or cramp bandages.
Prescribing Heat or Cold Therapy
Applying a heating or an ice pad on the area of the pain is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to reduce or even get rid of back pain. This therapy works like a wonder in back pain treatment and that is why most pain management doctors suggest and offer this. When you apply a heating pad to the area of pain, it helps relax and loosen the sore and stiff muscles that are potentially causing the pain. This allows for better blood flow to the painful area of the back and speeds up the healing process.
On the contrary, when you apply an ice pad to your back pain, it reduces inflammation from the spine. This happens because of the contraction of blood vessels which in turn reduces swelling and numbs down the back, relieving you from pain. For a more effective result, you can consider getting ice therapy first and then shift to heat therapy, in the first 48 hours of the pain.
Physical Therapy and Gentle Exercises.
Another best way to relieve your back pain is to stretch and perform gentle exercises on a routine basis. Some pain management doctors are also experts in physical therapy, while others collaborate with these therapists to help patients improve mobility, strengthen muscles, and eliminate muscles. These exercises, especially those that focus on the back, hips, and legs, are very effective in gradually removing back pain. You can also prevent the pain from starting again if you do these exercises daily. Stretching your muscles loosens the tightness of muscles and improves their flexibility.
Pain management doctors also emphasize gentle activities. You can opt for gentle activities like going for a long walk, swimming weekly, or cycling in the park daily. These activities keep muscles active without adding more strain on your back. The impact of these exercises is lower on the body and as a result, they improve overall flexibility, enhance blood circulation, and also keep you fit, preventing any further injury.
Other Treatments
Pain management doctors have a variety of other solutions for back pain relief that are not so common and are used only in an intense condition of back pain. For instance, a pain expert may recommend an epidural steroid injection or any other type of injection, especially if it is related to chronic pain or nerve compression. Other than this, a pain management doctor may offer acupuncture, massage therapy, spinal cord stimulation, surgery, etc. to treat your back pain.
Conclusion
Back pain is one of those common weaknesses that many individuals suffer from, mostly in old age. Women tend to get back pain at a very early age due to pregnancy. Back pain is a common condition that can range from temporary to chronic pain. A pain management doctor is specially trained to address your condition and help you find relief through a combination of medical treatments, therapies, and natural pain relief solutions. It is necessary to consult a pain management doctor as soon as the pain starts.
Get in touch with Pain Treatment MD to have the most effective treatment for your back pain.
