Back pain is common, but it can be hard to diagnose. Some patients may suffer for months before getting a proper diagnosis.
Medications typically help with symptoms but don’t solve the underlying condition. However, there are other ways to get relief from back pain such as acupuncture, biofeedback therapy and electrical nerve stimulation.
Massage
Back pain can be the result of a variety of things, from an injury to poor posture. Often, it is impossible to pinpoint what caused the pain; however, many people have found that massage relieves their back problems. Whether performed by a friend or family member, a professional masseuse, or using a foam roller at home, massage can help alleviate short-term back pain for most people.
A back massage increases the blood flow in your body, which prevents waste from being trapped in certain areas and promotes healing. It can also decrease your muscle spasms, aches, and stiffness. In addition, massage releases feel-good hormones known as endorphins, which can reduce your anxiety and depression.
When you have a back pain, it can be difficult to move around, and this can lead to decreased mobility and fatigue. A massage can improve your flexibility, and this can relieve the tension in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments that is causing your back pain. To have an x-ray, pricing can be affected by insurance, location, and Patient needs.
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared the effectiveness of two types of massage therapy and usual care for chronic low back pain. The study included 401 individuals 20 to 65 years of age with nonspecific chronic low back pain. They were randomly assigned to receive either structural or relaxation massage, in addition to their usual medical treatment. Results showed that both types of massage were more effective than usual care alone in reducing the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain. The researchers concluded that these findings support the efficacy of massage for chronic back pain.
Hot and Cold Therapy
The combination of heat and cold therapy is one of the simplest treatments to help relieve muscle aches and back pain. Cold therapy can be applied for short periods of time to help reduce a sprain or injury while heat can be used for longer durations to relax stiff muscles and increase mobility. Both therapies are safe and affordable, and they can provide long-lasting results.
Ice can help relieve pain in the first couple days of a minor injury or soreness from exercise. It can also decrease inflammation and speed up healing over the long term. But it’s important to remember that using ice on a regular basis can make muscles and ligaments less flexible and slow down recovery, so try to use cold treatment no more than twice per day.
Hot therapy is effective for back pain and muscle stiffness, especially in the chronic type that lasts more than four weeks. It increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the area, which can alleviate tightness and relieve pain. In a 2021 study, researchers found that moist heat (such as from a heating pad, hot water bottle, or microwaved wet towel) was more effective than dry heat at relieving back pain.
Other non-conventional remedies for back pain include acupuncture and herbal supplements. Acupuncture involves putting needles into different pressure points in the body to relieve back pain and other ailments. The herb devil’s claw, which is an anti-inflammatory, can be taken as a capsule, tablet, or ointment to treat osteoarthritis and relieve back pain. Another alternative remedy is biofeedback, which uses special equipment in a doctor’s or therapist’s office to teach you how to monitor and control your body’s physical reactions to ease long-term back pain.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Back pain can be debilitating and keep you from doing the things that you love. Whether it’s low back pain or aching joints that send shooting pain down your legs, there are many options to treat your back pain. Often, these treatments are easy, natural and non-invasive. Others are more invasive and may require medical attention or surgery, but they can also be effective in treating back pain. Surgery is usually a last resort and should only be used when other less invasive therapies have failed.
Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with back pain by reducing swelling and inflammation. Some of the most common types include paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac. These medications can be taken orally, as a gel or salves or as patches that deliver pain-relieving medication through the skin. If your pain doesn’t respond to OTC pain relievers, a doctor can prescribe stronger medications such as analgesics or antidepressants. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend cortisone injections into the spinal cord or nerve roots to decrease pain signals in the brain.
Other treatments that have proven to be effective in some cases include acupuncture, which involves inserting needles into certain points on the body to block pain impulses. Acupuncture is generally considered a safe and effective treatment, although it may not provide immediate pain relief for everyone. Other alternative methods such as chiropractic or massage therapy may help relieve pain and increase flexibility.
Diet and lifestyle changes can also be effective in easing back pain. Some experts suggest following an alkaline diet, which is based on eating foods that are rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains to reduce acidity in the body. In addition, eating plenty of water can help keep the spine hydrated and prevent recurrent back pain.
Massage Therapy
Back pain is usually caused by muscle strain or overwork, and massage can ease the resulting soreness. It also increases blood flow, which helps speed recovery from tissue damage.
Several studies have found that massage reduces short-term back pain. However, there’s only weak evidence that it relieves chronic nonspecific low-back pain, according to the National Institutes of Health.
You can get a professional massage at a spa or your doctor’s office. Or you can try at-home treatments like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), in which a battery-powered device placed on your skin delivers brief, mild electrical impulses to the area. Other natural remedies that have been shown to help with back pain include heat/cold therapy, acupuncture, and yoga.
There are different types of massage, including deep tissue massage, which uses slow strokes to put pressure on muscles and tendons that are tight or injured. Another type of massage is remedial massage, which focuses on problem areas such as tender muscles, circulation problems, and problems with posture or injuries.
Other therapies are available, including biofeedback, in which a trained therapist helps you learn to control your body’s physical reactions, such as breathing and pulse rate. Some research has found that biofeedback can help reduce back pain and stress, but others haven’t.
While the use of alternative remedies is helpful in relieving back pain, it’s important to work with your doctor to make sure that you’re treating the right condition. For example, you should avoid exercise unless it’s been prescribed for you by your physician or spine physical therapist. Exercise can strengthen the muscles that support your spine, and it can help keep you in good shape, reducing your risk of future back problems.
Exercise
Getting plenty of exercise is one of the best things you can do to relieve back pain. Not only does it strengthen muscles and improve posture, but it also helps reduce stress, which can exacerbate back pain. You can try low-impact exercises such as yoga and tai chi, or look into water therapy classes and hydrotherapy pools for an additional level of support.
Some people find relief from back pain by taking supplements and herbal remedies. For instance, l-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, may help some people feel relaxed and sleep better at night, which can also ease back pain. Valerian root supplements may also help with insomnia and back pain.
You can also try adding a healthy diet to your pain-relieving routine. A diet low in sugar and processed foods, rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, can help decrease inflammation. Some people may want to follow an alkaline diet, which is a type of eating plan that is based on the theory that the body’s pH levels affect how back pain feels.
In addition to the above, you can also use noninvasive treatments such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation to help treat your back pain. If your pain does not subside after trying other methods, you can talk to your doctor about prescription drugs, such as muscle relaxants or narcotics. These can be used for a short period of time, but only under close medical supervision. You should also avoid smoking, as the chemicals in tobacco can aggravate back pain. Regardless of your approach, it is important to understand that back pain can affect every aspect of your life.