There’s no denying that back pain is one of the most debilitating health conditions and one that is, unfortunately, listed as the most common reason people see a doctor. Recent studies show that approximately 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their life. It doesn’t discriminate either and can affect everyone from young children and teenagers to adults and the elderly. The pain can be brought on randomly and for seemingly no reason, or caused by an injury, accident, or simply by getting out of bed the wrong way.
The causes of back pain are endless, and sometimes never truly discovered. And if the physical pain wasn’t enough, it can quickly start to take a toll on your mental and emotional health as well. And to top it off, back pain accounts for more than 101.8 million missed workdays. So, not only does it cause you to feel physical pain, as well as emotional and mental turmoil, but it also leaves you financially stressed, which can negatively affect your relationships, lifestyle, and so on and so forth. So, to say back pain is just about ‘back pain’ would be a major understatement. The good news is that there are treatment plans that are 100% natural and can be done at home to eradicate your pain and heal your back for permanent relief and that can get you back to living your life.
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Let’s Talk Back Pain
By definition, back pain is easy to understand – it’s pain located in the back. However, if you take a deeper look into it or have experienced back pain yourself, you quickly realize that there are varying degrees, locations and causes of back pain that quickly make this rather straightforward health condition quite complex.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Now, you may be wondering how one condition can be so diverse and it’s quite simple: ‘back pain’ is a broad category that only grazes the surface of what’s really going on.
Different Types of Back Pain
Similar to many health conditions, one size does not fit all. The term ‘back pain’ varies drastically in intensity, frequency, location and cause. It can be acute or chronic, sudden and sporadic, constant, unexplainable, debilitating – you name it. This is why it’s so important to understand the type of pain you are experiencing, so you can find the best treatment that addresses your individual circumstances.
Back pain is typically separated into three categories: the cervical region (neck), the thoracic region (upper back), and the lumbar region (lower back). Identifying where your back pain is coming from can provide you with some insight into what’s going on. However, some of the possible types of back pain are:
- Compressed nerves
- Degenerative disc disease
- Fractures
- Herniated discs
- Muscle injury
- Narrow spinal canal
- Natural aging
- Osteoporosis
- Pinched nerves
- Scoliosis
- Spinal infection
- Tumors
Keep in mind, there is a common saying associated with back pain that basically says, where you feel it is not necessarily where it comes from, which only makes this complicated matter even more so
Common Causes of Back Pain
As vast as the different types of back pain are, there are just as many potential causes of back pain. It can be caused by many of the things mentioned above, or it can be the result of aging, an injury, disease, poor posture, a bad mattress, unsteady shoes or a simple tweak. Back pain can also be caused by your lifestyle, with stress, smoking, and diet being leading factors. And no matter the cause, it can be extremely painful, debilitating and difficult to live with.
The good news is that understanding the common causes of back pain can help you begin your journey towards healing, as you’re able to gain the knowledge needed to identify the issue and begin treating it. However, as mentioned, there are many potential causes of back pain, and we would be here until next week if we went through all of them. So, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
In the meantime, some common causes of back pain are:
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Inflammation
- Injured discs
- Muscle injury
- Physical trauma
- Pregnancy
- Osteoporosis
- Stress (and ineffective stress management)
- Smoking
- Weight gain/obesity
Let’s Talk Treatment for Back Pain
Despite pain relief medication often being the first thing you reach for when experiencing back pain, it is not a treatment by any means. These medications are often only designed to soothe your pain – which is great, but it doesn’t heal the problem. The good news is that, just as vast as everything else is that pertains to back pain, there are just as many possible treatment options for back pain. However, not all treatment plans will work the same on all types of back pain. It is imperative to find a treatment regime that factors in your individual circumstances, such as the cause of your back pain, the location, the symptoms, and type, and so on and so forth.
And the options aren’t limited, so be sure you try different things to see what works for you. For example, there are incredibly helpful stretches and movements you can do at home to alleviate your pain and start strengthening the area to prevent it in the future. There are also yoga programs, holistic regimes, home remedies, conventional treatment plans, natural options, and so on and so forth.
Some treatment plans consist of doing stretches for a couple of minutes each day, whereas others may require you to spend more time on the yoga mat, or removing junk from your diet and lifestyle. Again, it all comes down to the specifics of your condition.
To give you an idea of the type of treatment you may want to try, here is a list of some of the most common types used for back pain:
- Acupuncture
- Cortisone injections
- Diet
- Lifestyle modifications
- Losing weight
- Medications
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Yoga and stretching
Tips for Back Pain Treatment
From natural options to ancient remedies, from invasive surgeries to mental health practices, there are so many different types of treatment plans available for back pain. As mentioned previously, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider to find the best one for you.
However, to get you started on your healing journey, here are some things to consider:
- Choose a treatment plan that is designed to treat the specific cause and type of your back pain (and not just the symptoms)
- Implement preventative measures, such as learning proper lifting techniques, practising proper body mechanics, etc.
- Eliminate risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, poor posture, inactivity, etc.
- Increase the strength and endurance of your body with low-impact activities
- Build muscle strength and flexibility using abdominal and back muscle exercises
- Be more active (staying still is the worst thing for back pain, as things start to seize up)
- Avoid treatment options that only mask your symptoms instead of healing the problem, such as prescription medications, illegal drugs, alcohol, etc.
- Use hot/cold therapy
- Improve your posture when sitting, standing, walking and sleeping
- Try natural pain relief for quick relief, such as magnesium lotions, teas and Ayurveda herbs
- Practice stress relief: get a massage, journal, do some breath work, etc.
- Avoid twisting movements
- You can try follow-along programs to treat back pain. We recommend the Back To Life, Unlock Your Spine, and Back Pain Breakthrough programs.
Oh, back pain. It sure is complicated and it feels just as horrible as it is complex. But you do not have to suffer in pain, giving up all of the activities you liked to do prior to this latest episode. There are a plethora of treatment options available for back pain. The key is to find one that is as natural as possible to avoid any potential side effects or symptoms. You also want to make sure that the treatment you use addresses your individual factors and is designed to tackle the problem at the source to eliminate and prevent your pain for good. Many of the treatment options can be used for all types of back pain and causes but it is still highly recommended that you speak with your healthcare professional to discuss your individual case. But stay positive. Relief is near.
