We all may suffer from back pain every now and then, but chronic back pain isn’t a pain that can be relived easily. You’ll know when you have chronic back pain as it is usually a pain that’s felt constantly for over 12 weeks. This type of pain is quite severe and doesn’t respond to initial treatments and you may have to seek medical advice if the pain is getting unbearable.
What causes chronic back pain?
Studies from the NHS suggests that lower back pain affects ‘1 in 10 people and is becoming more common with increasing age’. This shows that back pains are popular amongst us and we need to find more ways to tackle this problem, as surgery may not be an option for everyone.
Usually, people who have suffered an injury or acute back pain in the past, generally develop chronic back pains but other causes include:
- Muscle strain
- Heavy lifting
- Poor physical condition
- Constant strain on your back
- Weakening of muscles due to old age
So what are the best ways to treat chronic back pain?
If you are looking for instant results then visiting a specialist chiropractor may be the best solution for you. However, there are a few different methods you can try at home to help relieve the pains and make you feel a lot better.
1. Physical therapy
One of the first treatments you should try is exercise. Keeping your body active promotes a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing. Each exercise should be tailored to your needs and what will help you with your pains. The hardest part of this task would be to maintain the exercise routine. We understand life can get in the way and exercising always gets pushed to the end of the to-do list. However, keeping up with an exercise routine will help relieve back pains.
Some of the exercises can include::
- Stretching and flexibility
- Yoga
- Core strengthening
- Aerobic exercises
2. Meditation
Relaxation strategies can be really helpful for pain relief. Back pains or any type of pain can cause frustration and can sometimes lead to depression, which can negatively impact your wellbeing and how you feel on a daily basis. There are many relaxation strategies to choose from such as yoga, mediation and tai chi.
3. Diet
Diet plays a huge part in your health and well being. It’s safe to say, foods that are high in fat, processed foods and refined sugars are not doing wonders for your body. Weight loss can also help lessen your back pain and reduce the pressure on your spine.
4. Lifestyle changes
If you are suffering from chronic back pains, then its important to understand that you may need to make some lifestyle changes in order to help keep your pains from worsening. Try to take regular breaks when doing tasks around the house or take a moment to sit down when out and about. This will put less strain on your back and reduce the chances of the condition from advancing.
5. Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment for severe pains including back pain. It works by sending impulse of energy to targeted areas of the pain where there are damaged tissues within the tendon. It is pain-free treatment and stimulates the body’s natural healing process with virtually no side effects.
Speak to our qualified chiropractors in Coventry to find out more about this treatment option and if it is right for you.