Treatment Options And Lifestyle Modifications To Manage Chronic Back Pain
World Spine Day is observed every year on October 16. The day aims to raise awareness about spinal health and take the necessary steps that can help to keep the spine healthy. Chronic back pain has become a major health issue. The persistent pain in the back can be caused due to several reasons and these include poor posture, muscle strain and arthritis among others.
Chronic back pain can also impact your daily activities and reduce your quality of life. Read on as Dr Ashish Dagar, Consultant, Spine Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Gurugram and Dr Ashish Tomar, Senior Consultant, Orthopedics & Spine Surgery at Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector-8, Faridabad share the causes of chronic low back pain along with treatment options and lifestyle modifications to manage the condition.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Here, take a look at some of the common causes of lower back pain.
- Age-related arthritis of the spine: Gradual degeneration of joints of the spine including discs and facet joints might cause chronic back pain.
- Degenerated disc disease: Affects young adults. Disc degenerates and stops its physiological function resulting in mild to moderate but nagging lower back pain
- Spinal stenosis: Facet joint hypertrophy and disc bulge might cause stenosis of the central spinal canal causing compression of containing nerves.
- Spondylolysis: Affects young and middle-aged adults. The bony hook between two spinal bones (vertebrae) is broken causing chronic back pain.
- Disc herniation or bulge might also be a reason for chronic lower back pain
- Myofascial pain syndrome: Muscle and fascia pain of unknown aetiology.
Lifestyle Modifications To Manage Chronic Back Pain
Here, take a look at some of the lifestyle modifications that one can make to manage lower back pain.
Exercise and Posture
Regular exercise and maintaining proper posture during daily activities are critical in preventing and managing pain. Exercises such as low-impact aerobic exercises, isometric core strengthening/stabilization, supervised strength training, balance-improving exercises and aquatic exercises have a positive impact on low back pain.
Weight Management
Reducing body weight can help reduce excess pressure on the spine.
Self-care
Self-care and self-management strategies, such as ergonomic instructions, proper body mechanics, joint protection and energy conservation guidelines, self-massage, self-acupressure, flare-up management and pain neuroscience education, may be useful techniques to help patients manage their back pain. Workspaces should be adjusted to support the back properly, especially for people sitting for long periods.
Nutrition
Healthy eating habits play an important role in low back pain management. It can help in reducing weight which might be one of the contributing factors for strain on spine. Recent studies show that some diets are highly inflammatory, especially those high in trans fats, refined sugars and processed foods. Avoiding such items might be beneficial in chronic low back pain.
Sleep and Stress
Anxiety, stress, insomnia and chronic low back pain are interconnected as all of these increase pain perception. Maintain sleep hygiene (dark, quiet, cool room with supportive pillows) and complete 8 hours of sleep daily.
Treatment Options To Manage Chronic Back Pain
Here, take a look at some of the treatment options that one can make to manage lower back pain.
Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or nerve pain medications can be prescribed depending on the cause of pain.
Physical Therapy
Regular sessions focusing on stretching, strengthening and posture correction can reduce pain and prevent recurrence.
Injections
Epidural steroid injections or nerve blocks may offer temporary relief for severe pain.
Surgery
In cases where conservative treatments fail, surgeries like laminectomy or spinal fusion might be recommended.
Alternative treatments
Acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can make a difference for chronic back pain.
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