How to Deal with Back Pain

A common problem, back pain can affect people of all ages. While in some cases it resolves on its own, the pain may need medical attention if it were due to a serious cause. Knowing what to do when back pain strikes could prevent it from getting worse or chronic. It is therefore important to understand the causes of the condition and how it can be managed.

Causes

In most cases, acute back pain is caused by a muscle, tendon or ligament strain due to bad posture while sitting or standing, bending awkwardly or lifting incorrectly. In addition to everyday activities, playing vigorous sports can also strain the back. Common risk factors include being overweight, pregnancy, smoking, lack of exercise, and long-term use of certain medications.

Medical conditions such as sciatica, spondylosis, and spinal stenosis, fractures due to osteoporosis, tumors, shoulder and neck pain, and infections could also be responsible for the condition. In rare cases, chronic back pain could be indicative of serious conditions like cancer, spinal cord injury or an autoimmune disease.

Self Help

In most cases, back pain may not need medical attention and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and self-care. It is important to stay physically active with exercises like walking and swimming. Exercise should be continued even after the pain resolves in order to maintain strength and fitness. It is also necessary to maintain good posture when sitting or standing at home or at work. If you are overweight, aim for weight loss to ease back strain.

However, if you the pain continues for more than six weeks or is getting worse, you should see consult a pain management doctor. Symptoms such as numbness around the groin and buttocks should not be ignored. Moreover, if you have had an accident that was forceful enough to injure your spine, proper medical assessment is necessary to rule out a serious spinal injury.

Back Pain Treatment

One of the best places to get treatment for back pain is at a professional pain management center. In leading health care centers in New York, a multidisciplinary team of orthopedists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, physical therapists and psychologists collaborate to provide effective treatment for the condition. The following non-surgical techniques are used to alleviate pain in the lower (lumbar), middle (thoracic), or upper (cervical) back:

• Exercise
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Hot and cold therapy
• Manual techniques
• Behavior modification
• Epidural steroid injections
• Oral medications
• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy
• Game Ready cold therapy and compression

At a reliable NY healthcare center, patients can expect customized treatment plans designed to help them manage pain and improve functionality. Despite symptoms, most people who get such focused treatment for back pain manage to lead a normal life and continue to work.

As a leading multi-specialty healthcare center in Brooklyn, New York City, HealthQuest offers quality care and sophisticated services. Our unique approach to patient care ensures fast return to a pain-free lifestyle.