Back Pain Management: Alternatives To Medication
Back pain can make it really hard to get through the day, let alone work and exercise. Many people rely on pain relief medications to keep their back pain under control, but these meds have side effects and can be addictive. If you'd rather avoid pain relievers, here are some alternative back pain management options to consider.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care has become more common in recent years. People sometimes avoid it because they think it will only give them temporary relief, but that's not really accurate. A chiropractor can adjust your spine in a way that takes the pressure off of whatever tissues have been damaged and injured. This will allow those tissues to heal, which will lead to a reduction in pain over time. Chiropractic care is therefore a good choice for herniated discs, strained muscles, and also pinched nerves. An adjustment only takes a few minutes, and it's not painful.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that involves the insertion of tiny needles into specific spots along the skin. The needles work to redirect the flow of energy. A more modern way of saying this would be that the needles change the nerve impulses flowing to your brain. This can reduce the experience of pain—at least for a while. The acupuncturist will carefully plan where they place the needles based on the symptoms you're experiencing. While having needles placed in your skin may sound uncomfortable, you'll barely feel a thing when they are inserted, and the relief from a single session can last for weeks.
Aromatherapy
While it may sound insulting to say "pain is in your mind," this is true to a degree. If you get stressed out and anxious about your pain, you'll experience that pain as worse, which will make you more stressed out, which will further worsen your pain. It can feel like an endless cycle, but aromatherapy can help you break free. Scents like lavender, chamomile, and vanilla can help relax your mind, which in turn will relax your muscles and help thwart your back pain. You can practice aromatherapy at home or on the go. Diffuse scented oils into your space, or spritz some on your wrist.
Back pain can be a real bear to deal with, but the remedies above can prove very helpful. Talk to your doctor or a chiropractor to learn more. They'll often sympathize with your desire to avoid pain relievers.
Contact a local doctor to learn more about back pain management.