Back pain not only affects us personally, but economically and nationally as well! The Duke University Medical Centre, reported this finding in a first of its kind study, on the link between ‘back ache and the US economy.’ “We believe that the results of our analysis highlight the prevalence of back pain in the U.S. and its impact on the health-care system,” was lead researcher Xuemei Luo’s observation. If like so many others, your nagging back pain is also preventing you from getting back to work, it’s time you sought out some effective Huntington Beach pain management techniques! Pain management treatments offered by specialist pain clinics and hospitals, can help you get over the discomfort, fatigue, stress, irritability and depression, that it may be causing you.
Effective Back-Pain Management Techniques, Require Greater Patient Involvement
Pain management techniques differ according to individual requirements. As Spine-Health.com points out, “…back pain can be very complex and difficult to accurately diagnosis and treat. There are myriad causes and contributing factors, and a wide range of possible back pain treatments that may or may not work for the same condition…” Since the “level, degree and manageability of pain is very different for every person…your treatment will most likely be more successful if you proactively participate in making decisions about your medical care,” it states.
Pain Management Techniques Differ for Acute and Chronic Back Pain
‘Acute’ back pain and ‘chronic’ back pain differ primarily in the nature of their duration, with the latter lasting longer than 3-6 months. Eduardo Fraifeld, MD, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, defines ‘acute pain,’ as “…normal pain that warns that you’ve been hurt. Acute pain starts suddenly and usually doesn’t last long. When the injury heals, the pain stops,” he says. In contrast, when “the pain itself becomes a disease,” and “when the injury heals and you continue having pain beyond the time of expected recovery, that’s chronic pain,” he clarifies. It is essentially because of this, that the pain management techniques for acute and chronic back pain are different.
Pain Management Techniques for Acute Back Pain
Most patients suffering from back pain for shorter periods of time are asked to discontinue normal physical activity for a few days. Pain management techniques for acute back pain, usually begin with being prescribed painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. “Paracetamol is effective in treating most cases of back pain. Some people find non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, more effective. A stronger painkiller, such as codeine, is also an option and is sometimes taken in addition to paracetamol. If you also experience muscle spasms in your back, your GP may recommend a short course of a muscle relaxant, such as diazepam,” NHS informs on its website. Other pain management methods that may be recommended for acute back ache, range from: hot and cold treatments like – ice packs, hot water bags or hot baths; altering sleep postures; doing relaxation exercises; and maintaining regular body movements through walking, yoga or swimming.
Pain Management Techniques for Chronic Back Pain
While at one time, people believed that chronic back pain management had more to do with the psychology of an individual, than his physiology; today the reverse has been proved to be true! “We can show exactly where the sensation of pain is occurring in the brain when it is activated by stimuli. We can see the effects of pain on emotion — and emotion on pain,” Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH, director of pain management at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, states in an article to WebMD.
With the result, chronic back pain management, today, is all about combining different forms of treatments to achieve the best possible results. Among these are ‘manual therapies,’ which involve -“manipulation, mobilization and massage, usually carried out by a chiropractor, osteopaths or physiotherapists,” states an NHS article on back pain.
It goes on to name, the ‘Alexander Technique’ – that helps eliminate unnecessary muscular tension from the body; ‘Acupuncture’ –that uses needles at different points in the body to relieve pain; ‘Nerve Root block Technique’- that injects anesthetics or steroids into the back; ‘Antidepressants’ – that are effective in treating some cases of persistent pain; ‘Cognitive behavioral therapy’ –that helps patients psychologically cope better; ‘Surgical Procedure’ – that is used when all non-surgical methods have failed and the source of pain can be pinpointed; and other laser and sound based therapies; as some of the most popular therapies for managing chronic back pain today.
Harbour Health Center
https://www.harbourhealthdc.com/
16831 1/2 Algonquin St
Huntington Beach, CA 92649