If you deal with chronic pain, it can be difficult to sleep if your pain flares up at night. To compound the problem, your body can struggle to heal itself if it doesn’t get enough rest. Read on to learn ways to help recapture restorative sleep.
If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. About 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. There are several things to consider to help alleviate suffering from low back pain. The following is a list of things that can help you.
Staying physically active is an important treatment option for lower back pain. While it may seem counterintuitive to move when you are in pain, keeping your muscles strong and engaged can be the key to a healthy back. Focus on stretches and core work, but don’t forget low-impact cardiovascular exercises such as biking, swimming, and hiking.
Although it may not work as quickly as medication for lower back pain, eating a healthy diet full of anti-inflammatory foods can make a tremendous difference in treating chronic back pain. Adding these foods while eliminating common inflammation-causing foods like sugar, wheat, and dairy can help you manage pain.
The more weight we carry on our bodies, the more stress there is on our joints. Maintaining a healthy weight with diet and exercise can be an important part of treatment for back pain, especially in cases where back pain is due to compression injuries such as herniated discs or inflammation caused by spinal stenosis.
Acupuncture is gaining traction as an effective treatment for low back pain. Chiropractic care can also be an excellent first-line treatment that minimizes the chance of spinal surgery in the future. Mindfulness meditation and biofeedback have both been shown to diminish the perception of pain. All of these treatments are nearly side-effect free, and many are now covered by insurance.
Finally, if your pain doesn’t respond to medication for lower back pain or these complementary approaches, you could try more targeted therapies for resolving your back pain. This will involve identifying the underlying causes of your back pain and finding a therapy that can work to resolve or treat the symptoms of your pain. Once a correct diagnosis is made, your doctor may recommend any of the following therapies:
• Epidural steroid injections
• Lumbar facet block
• Lysis of adhesions
• Percutaneous discectomy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Surgery
For more information please schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified physicians. Call Valley Pain Centers 602-795-0207.
You Might Also Enjoy...
If you deal with chronic pain, it can be difficult to sleep if your pain flares up at night. To compound the problem, your body can struggle to heal itself if it doesn’t get enough rest. Read on to learn ways to help recapture restorative sleep.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken away many freedoms and choices, but you don’t have to choose between risking your health and managing your pain. Through our telemedicine services, you stay home, stay safe, and stay out of pain.
Pain is a warning system your body uses to alert you to potential damage. Sometimes, you may expect the warning, such as when you’re exerting yourself at the gym. At other times, pain may be a sign that you need medical attention.
With chronic pain can come a symptom that isn’t often discussed: anger. Anger can arise due to fears and frustrations associated with long-lasting pain conditions. And to make it worse, unresolved anger can intensify perceptions of pain.
Running affects many joints and mechanical systems in your body. You can get injured in a number of ways because of this. Continue reading to learn about the most common injuries involved with running.
While grabbing your skis to hit the slopes can be a great way to spend a winter day, your back and knees can get injured no matter how soft the powder is. Read on to learn about preventing injuries as well as what you can do if you get hurt.