Back pain affects 80% of Americans at some point in their life. With so many people experiencing back pain, it is no wonder people spend millions of dollars every year on back pain relief. So, what can you do at home to improve back pain and how do you know when to see a doctor?
Sleep With a Pillow
When lying on your side, your legs throw your back out of alignment. For most people, this is not a problem. However, for those experiencing chronic back pain, this may put just enough pressure on the back to cause pain. Sleeping with a pillow in between the knees relieves this pressure.
The same theory applies to those sleeping on their back. Lie flat on your back with your knees straight. Then bend your knees and you can feel your back relax. Therefore sleeping with a pillow under your knees allows the back to relax during sleeping relieving minor back pain.
Over-the-Counter Medications
For minor back pain, over-the-counter medications work well. They should only be taken for a short time as problems can occur with long-term use. Studies have shown that both Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen are equally effective in back pain relief.
Avoid Excessive Bed Rest
While bed rest may be what you want to do, it will only make recovery longer. Studies have shown those who use prolonged bed rest experience a higher rate of depression, blood clots, and a loss of muscle tone. All of these increase recovery time.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Back Pain
Most people will not require medical attention. For the most part, back pain is self-limiting and goes away after a few days. However, there are occasions when seeing a doctor or chiropractor is necessary.
If you have tried the above methods for a few days and see no improvement, you need to consider medical treatment. There are many noninvasive ways to treat back pain especially when the pain is not severe.
If you are experiencing severe back pain, you will need to see a doctor or chiropractor. The doctor or chiropractor can take x-rays to check for broken bones. Other tests look for herniated disk, arthritis, and range of mobility to name just a few.
Finally, if you cannot perform your daily activities due to back pain, then a visit to the doctor or chiropractor is necessary. Anytime you cannot perform daily activities, whether it is back pain or not, you need to see a doctor or chiropractor. While the inability to perform daily activities does not necessarily mean you have a serious injury, it does require medical attention.
Primary Care Physician vs. Chiropractor
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. A primary care physician can prescribe pain medications while a chiropractor cannot. A chiropractor can realign the spine to relieve the pain while a physician cannot.
Both physicians and chiropractors have similar education. However, a chiropractor has knowledge that is more specific in the complexities of the back, neck and spine. Physicians have more knowledge of medical conditions.
In many cases, a physician will refer back pain out to rehabilitation, chiropractor, or both. You can find chiropractors that combine chiropractic practices with Progressive Rehabilitation. Therefore, many people choose to skip the physician and go directly to a chiropractor involved with Progressive Rehabilitation.
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