Back pain: Causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention

Liv Butler
Authored by Liv Butler
Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2022 - 6:39am

Lower back pain (lumbago) is a common health issue for many people. it arises due to disc, ligament and muscles, nerves, body posture, arthritis, intervertebral disc, and some time it arises due to kidneys,

75-80% of Americans will experience back pain, according to American associates and neurological surgeons. But it improves in 90% of cases by consulting doctors and changing lifestyles.

What is the treatment for back pain?

Many people experience back pain, but usually by adopting good habits, changing lifestyles and using pain medication, it gets better. In some critical cases though, a stronger treatment is provided under medical supervision.

Here are some non-surgical treatments that help to treat back pain

Non-surgical treatments for chronic back pain

Physical therapy

Should be your first treatment. You can have physical therapy under the guidance of a doctor and therapist. You should also follow normal and easy exercise at home and walk at least three times a day for a short time. Types of physical therapy include:

  • Aerobic exercise
  • Retraining your posture
  • Testing the pain tolerance limit
  • Core strengthen
  • Stretching and flexibility

Maintain a healthy weight

Obesity or being overweight can be a major factor affecting your back, so try to keep your weight down.

Give up smoking

Do you know smokers are more prone to disk diseases and may arise spine problems? This is because the addiction-causing compounds like nicotine and tobacco weaken the spinal bones and destroy all the good nutrition which provides cushioning for your discs.

Diet

Eat a balanced diet and go for nutritious food like fruits and vegetables, avoid a diet high in trans fats. A good, balanced diet will help in lessening your back pain and will also help you maintain a healthy weight. 

Modify Your Lifestyle

A disease or problem occurs mainly because of an unhealthy lifestyle. You should think about activity levels and daily work routine and find out where you are doing wrong. Always think before performing any task and walk or move around if you spend long periods of the day sitting in front of a laptop or computer. Make sure you get plenty of sleep and buy the best-medicated pillow like this for a good posture while sleeping.

Pharmacological treatment

Analgesic and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and other medications help and control lower back pain. But you should not use these drugs for long periods to avoid side effects. Try the treatment mentioned above.

Medicinal ointments

Topical creams can sometimes be effective in reducing back pain because they contain lidocaine, menthol and camphor that provide a cool heat effect to the affected area. They don't provide a prolonged effect, but a proper massage will have a good result.

Tips to prevent back pain at home

  • Improve your posture while sitting and standing
  • Carry less and avoid unnecessary stress and strain
  • Do some muscle strength training workouts by watching videos
  • Avoid wearing high heels - wear soft, flexible and comfortable shoes at work
  • Stretching your body often will help prevent pain
  • Eat natural and drink milk or anything rich in calcium.
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