When back pain persists, it interferes with your quality of life, making it important you find a solution. Do you have back pain and live in Westchester? Find out about back pain treatment in Westchester and what you read might surprise you, and we will show you how the simple things we do and how we sleep or sit can affect our backs. In this article, we will be discussing seven amazing ways we fix back pain
Back pain can be caused by several factors. It can also affect people of any age. Still, older people have a higher chance of developing back pain because of their previous occupation, weakening of bones, or degenerative disk disease.
Causes of Back Pain
The human back comprises complex bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and disks. They support the body and enable us to move freely by working together. Many factors could affect any one of these constructs, leading to backache.
Strain
It is common to trace the cause of back pain to strain, tension, or even injury. Common examples include:
- Muscle tension
- Falls, injuries, and fractures
- Strained muscles or ligaments
- Damaged disks
Structural problem
There are many structural causes of back pain. They include
Osteoporosis: This condition makes bones brittle, including the vertebras of the spine, making compression fractures more likely.
Ruptured disk: each vertebra that makes up the spine is cushioned by a strong but flexible ligament (disk). If this disk gets damaged, the vertebra presses on the nerve causing pain.
Arthritis: Arthritis can cause problems in the lower back. In some cases, it causes spinal stenosis—a condition where the space around the spine narrows.
Abnormal curvature of the spine: patients with abnormal spines can experience back pain.
Movement and Posture
Sitting in a hunched position when reading or using a computer can result in back and soldier pain in the long run. Poor posture and certain movements can result in back pain.
What Are the Treatments for Back Pain
Sleep Better
Back pain can make sleeping difficult. This creates a vicious circle because you can’t sleep without pain but what you may not know is that lack of sleep can cause back pain. Your posture when you sleep is important and can be the cause or the remedy to back pain.
Why don’t you try lying on your side? It should give you better comfort.
Try placing a pillow between your knees to keep your spine in a neutral position. This should relieve the strain on your back.
Practices like these are excellent remedies to some causes of backaches.
Good Posture
Slouching is bad for your back. While it may feel natural and relaxing at first, it can quickly catch up to you. Poor posture can make back pain worse. The way you stand, sit, and sleep is important.
Learn to sit upright while typing and reading. Don’t forget to relax your shoulders and comfortably support your body using the wall, a pillow, or the back of your chair.
Medication From Store
We prescribe two kinds of over-the-counter pain relievers that can help with back pain:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Acetaminophen
Consult your doctor to learn more about the side effects of these drugs. Some people may not be able to take them.
Prescription Pain Relievers
Some people need prescription-strength medication. For this, we prescribe stronger medications to help with the pain. These drugs must be prescribed, so you need to speak to a doctor or your pharmacist before getting them. Your medical chart will be looked at to avoid overdosing on certain active ingredients.
Muscle relaxants can also be prescribed to help with these painful muscle spasms.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can teach you how to sit, walk and move properly to alleviate the strain on your back. We can also show you some exercises that will strengthen your core muscles, so your back gets adequate support.
A strong core supports your weight, thereby reducing the chances of back pain in the future. Studies have shown that by increasing your endurance, flexibility, and strength, back pain decreases.
This process usually takes time, and progress may appear slow. But with consistency, you can be in even better shape than when you first felt your backache.
Spinal Injections
There are different types of injections your doctor may recommend to reduce your pain. Spinal injections are very controlled, so the number of doses is usually limited and could be spread across years.
Back Surgery
This is usually the final option put on the table. Surgery can be performed on your vertebrae to remove a damaged disk or to decompress an area. Learn more about our back surgery clinic in Westchester here.