Back pain is a health complication that a majority of adults experience throughout their lives.
Some cases may be minor, but due to a variety of causes, others experience chronic back pain, which is a whole other level of discomfort.
When people suffer from chronic back pain for a long period of time, they just want the route of least resistance.
Of course, surgery may be an option, but it shouldn’t be the first choice as it can come with many other health risks.
Although surgery can be effective, there are many other methods available that offer benefits for dealing with chronic back pain.
This article is a guide on the numerous alternatives to managing lower back pain without having to resort to surgery.
Managing the Effects of Chronic Back Pain
Roughly 50 to 100 million people in the U.S. are dealing with back pain, and roughly 20 million are consistently experiencing chronic back pain.
These numbers alone highlight how common this health issue is, which is why it’s vital that people explore multiple options for healing.
Thankfully, there are numerous methods people can use to help mitigate the effects of chronic back pain.
Whether this is through the support of a medical professional or various activities that can be used at home, sufferers don’t have to resort to surgery to find relief.
1. Spinal Manipulation
With the help of chiropractors, a professional can make adjustments to your spine in hopes of alleviating the source of chronic back pain.
This may come with multiple sessions and a little trial and error, but chiropractic methods have proven to be effective for many people.
This option tends to be somewhat exploratory but is a much better alternative than diving into a risky surgery.
It’s essential that you work with a chiropractor that has a successful track record, and it can be more cost-efficient than surgery as well.
2. Working on Stress Reduction
Although stress is pretty common among most people, it can cause many physical complications in the long term.
There are many stress reduction techniques people can use to reduce the effects of chronic back pain.
Stress reduction techniques should be utilized on a consistent basis for the best results, as chronic back pain can be rather persistent.
3. Implementing Yoga
Known for its health benefits through specific bodily movements, yoga is another great option for issues with chronic back pain.
Yoga is an activity that can be easily picked up, and you can even get help from guided instructors that specifically cater movements to help with back pain.
4. Acupuncture
This solution may not be the first thing that comes to mind regarding chronic back pain, but it’s an ancient practice that has a lot of supporting research behind it.
It’s also known that acupuncture is much more effective than many other non-surgical treatments, such as medication.
5. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
With proper guidance, progressive muscle relaxation can offer a range of benefits to the body.
This includes the management of chronic back pain. In many cases, with back pain, it requires consistent effort to ward off the pain that comes and goes.
The reality of chronic back pain is that it can be lifelong, but a full recovery is possible with consistent effort.
It may also require significant lifestyle changes, as many everyday choices contribute to the development of chronic back pain.
Another way you can work toward avoiding the development of chronic back pain is by paying attention to what exactly causes this health issue.
Doing your best to avoid it is the best way to ensure your body doesn’t suffer from it throughout your life.
Causes of Chronic Back Pain
It’s actually relatively easy to strain the back and cause long-term back pain. All it takes is one minor mistake with your body, and you might encounter back pain that’s hard to shake off.
Although this type of back pain is commonly found in adults, it can happen to children of all ages as well.
Common causes of chronic back pain include:
- Ruptured disks
- The strain of different muscles and ligaments
- Osteoporosis
- Severe arthritis
- Inflammatory diseases like axial spondyloarthritis
Risks factors that contribute to the development of chronic back pain include:
- Improper lifting
- Age
- Smoking
- Excess body weight
- Lack of exercise
There’s no argument that chronic back pain can feel quite debilitating, but it isn’t something you have to deal with forever.
Regardless of how long you’ve been dealing with the health condition, there’s plenty you can do to help heal your body for the better.
In Summary
Chronic back pain is a health concern affecting millions of individuals of all ages globally.
Surgery may be a sufficient option for many individuals, but its risks may not be worth the time, money, or additional health issues.
Utilizing the other solutions highlighted in this article can offer the benefits you need to feel better without having to resort to surgery.
Considering the number of options available to fix chronic back pain, surgery should be a last resort, regardless of how much pain you may be dealing with.
