What You Put in Your Body Affects Your Health Greatly

To get the most relief from your persistent back pain, your doctors will come up with a pain management plan that incorporates many approaches. Your plan will evolve to include the treatments to which you best respond. Treating both the physiology and psychology of pain, here are some of the components that may be included in your specific treatment plan:   

Medication

Treating chronic back pain with medication requires finding the balance between pain relief and the side effects caused by the drugs. Not enough and you still have sharp throbbing pain. Too much and you feel sluggish all of the time. Some anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can give you some relief, but may damage your liver and kidneys at sustained high doses. Your doctors will find the right combination of medications to help with your pain but keep you safe and alert.

Physical Therapy

You'll be given exercises to do that strengthen the core muscles in your abdomen and surrounding your spine. These muscles will give your spine better support to prevent pain from developing as you sit for long periods or when you must be on your feet moving for your job.

Spinal Traction

This technique helps to relieve pressure on the spine. Also called non-surgical spinal decompression, the treatment is done on a special table that gradually pulls on your spine to relieve the tension on the muscles around the spine. Hot and cold packs and massage may be done before or after the traction sessions to increase the pain-relief benefits of the treatment.

Occupational Therapy

You'll learn more about how your body moves and the impact on the muscles in your back. The therapist will show you the correct ways to lift heavy items, bend and reach so as not to put stress on your back. They will also show you ways to keep the muscles in your back limber when sitting for long periods at a desk, while driving or on a long flight.

Acupuncture

The placement of tiny needles into spots on the body that map to ancient Chinese energy centers gives relief to some people with back pain. It improves circulation in some areas which reduces the inflammation associated with tense muscles in your back.

Meditation

Learning how to move your thoughts away from the pain can give you some relief during the day and help you sleep at night. A particular form of meditation, called mindfulness meditation, teaches you how to dissociate your thoughts from the pain so you are aware that the pain is there, but your body doesn't react to it as intensely.

For further assistance, contact local professionals, such as those from Pain Treatment Center.