Have you ever had back pain so bad that it limited you from doing activity, such as participating in a sport or going to work? If so, you are not alone. About 31 million Americans, or nearly 10% of the population, are experiencing low back pain at any one time. And worldwide, low back pain is the leading cause of disability. What causes the pain? There are a number of reasons. For some people, it may be due to an acute or chronic injury. In other cases it’s caused by strain due to being overweight or having bad posture. Whatever the cause, low back pain is real, and it is something that causes a lot of pain and suffering. The good news is, there are a number of treatments for back pain.
One of the best treatments for back pain is to use professional physical therapy tools. Physical therapy tools for back pain often involve stretching, but they also can include weight-bearing exercises, range of motion testing, heat therapy and a number of other treatments. The goal is to not only alleviate the pain but also treat the condition that is causing it.
Another way to deal with your back pain is to see a chiropractor. These health professionals use spinal manipulation and adjustment to relieve back pain and other conditions. They can offer a number of different treatment options, including a chiropractic adjustment tool and a muscle testing machine. Though some people do not believe that chiropractic medicine is legitimate, results show otherwise. For example, one study showed that 94% of chiropractic patients showed a 30% reduction in back pain after four weeks of treatment, which was much better than the 56% of people who saw a traditional medical doctor.
Of course, those results don’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t see a doctor for your back pain. Some pain is caused by issues that can’t be remedied through physical therapy tools or chiropractic care. In such cases you might need to see a spine specialist and consider having surgery. Conditions such as bulging discs or spinal stenosis might require surgery to correct the conditions and alleviate the pain. Doctors also can prescribe you pain medication, although you have to be very careful. Chronic pain conditions, especially back pain, is one of the top causes of opioid addiction.
If you have back pain or any other pain, the key is to seek treatment for it as soon as possible. Depending on the kind of pain and its cause, there are a number of different treatment options that can be effective for you. You should seek out treatment from different providers until you find one that works for you.
