Back pain is a common problem nowadays. According to studies, every person is prone to develop back pain at least once in life. Back pain is the second leading cause of visiting a doctor all over the world. There may be many causes for it and different treatment options available, including pharmacological treatments, back surgery, and non-invasive options.
Commonly used medications for back problems are over the counter pain relieving medicines that include NSAIDs. Although these pain relievers may work temporarily, they have their own side effects. On the other hand, non-invasive and natural treatments for back pain have no unwanted negative effects on the human body.
Negative Effects of Pain Medication
That being said, before considering resorting to pain relievers to tackle back pain, below you can find some of the most common side effects of NSAIDs:
- Gastric upset, heartburn and stomach pain, which can sometimes lead to upper back pain and chest pain.
- Gastric ulcers.
- The tendency of bleeding is aggravated because they cause antiplatelets effect. This effect is more prominent with aspirin.
- Light-headedness, dizziness, and headache.
- Sensations of ringing in the ear (tinnitus).
- Allergic reactions such as swelling in the throat, rashes on the skin, wheezing, etc. may happen to some patients.
- Liver and kidney problems. Aspirin specifically causes liver damage if overused. If you have pre-existing liver or kidney problems, you must not use these medications without the prescription of a doctor.
- Swelling in the lower limbs.
- High blood pressure.
These side effects cannot be avoided in any case. The pain relief you get is obtained at the cost of these unwanted effects.
Another problem with such pain treatments is that all the patients suffering from back pain cannot take medicines. Some categories of patients that cannot take NSAIDs are:
- People who have suffered from serious side effects from a conventional painkiller in the past.
- The persons who are at a high risk of gastric bleeding.
- The patients who have gastric problems like GERD, heartburn, etc.
- Those who have some underlying medical disorders like cardiac disease, cirrhosis of the liver, hypertension, renal disease, etc.
- People who have respiratory tract issues like asthma.
- The patients who take diuretics.
Non-Invasive Treatment for Back Pain is a Better Approach
A natural and non-invasive approach to treat back pain is better most of the time because:
- You do not have to suffer from side effects.
- You can use drug-free interventions (back brace, back support belts) even if you are suffering from any underlying pathological condition like heart or kidney disease. Nondrug treatment does not worsen your underlying condition at all.
- Non-pharmacological treatments allow you to get permanent relief from pain if used properly for the recommended period. While medications usually cause only a temporary pain-relieving effect, using other treatments may help relieve the pain completely.
- Pain-relieving medications cannot correct the underlying cause of pain. For example, if bad posture or compressed vertebrae are causing your symptoms, pain medication will not help, as the correct course of action is to fix your posture or spinal compression and then the pain shall subside as well.
If your symptoms are persistent or something seems to be making your pain worse, it is recommended that you seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional and get a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
In some cases, such as with herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal compression, or bad posture, it is better to address the misalignment in your spine rather than the surface symptoms. One approach that can address all these problems at once is to use an orthopaedic device that has been designed to mirror the exact shape of the human spine in order to relieve the root cause of back problems.
Backrack Spinal Decompression Device
The device mirrors all the natural anatomical curvatures of the vertebral column. You have to lie on it in a neutral position keeping knees in a flexed position. Although you can perform many exercises on the rack to treat different spinal conditions, if you simply lay on it for 5 to 10 minutes, this constitutes an exercise in itself. It provides a decompression effect to your vertebral column and removes extra stress from your back.
If you want to avoid the negative effects of pain medication and have fear of more invasive options such as surgery, the Backrack device is just there for you, and can help you get relief even if you suffer from severe pain.
Pain Management Tips
Here we’ll share some of the tips to manage back pain at home:
Mindfulness and Meditation
Chronic back pain often occurs along with both physical and emotional stress. To manage negative emotions about back pain, you may wish to consult with a rehabilitation psychologist. Your consultant may advise you to perform relaxation activities such as tai chi, yoga, meditation, and other cognitive therapies to divert your mind from the pain.
Diet
Some diets have high inflammatory effects on the body, specifically those that are rich in processed foods, refined sugars, and trans fatty acids. Consult with your medical specialist to know that whether your diet is playing a role in your chronic back pain and how you can alter it to focus on getting the most nutrients instead.
Maintaining your weight within the normal limits of BMI can also contribute to a reduction of back pain because of decreased pressure exerted to the vertebral column.
Massage Therapy
It is a technique in which the soft tissues of the body are stroked, tapped and rubbed. It helps in the relaxation of muscles and reduces stress and pain.
Back Support Belts
Back support belts are an excellent remedy for acute or chronic low back pain. They can be used both as a preventive measure or treatment for lower back pain. They are available in different sizes and shapes. You can choose a belt according to the shape of your body.
A back support belt provides some extra support to the muscles of the lumbar region, lessening the pressure place on it and helping you relax. Keep in mind that you must wear a lumbar support belt while doing physical activities but not while at rest. People who work in a job that requires heavy weight lifting are highly advised to wear a lumbar support belt at their workplace to minimise the strain placed on their lumbar spine and other back pain symptoms
Author: Spinal Backrack
