The lower back is responsible for supporting the weight of your upper body and is directed to massive stress and strain during your daily movement. Lower back pain is a popular complication that can affect your daily activities and personal life. Individuals experiencing lower back pain Livingston reports that sudden injuries, arthritis, and wear and tear are some common causes. If you are one of them, do not worry because there are several recommendations to relieve it regardless of the cause of your lower back pain. Below are some of the most effective ways to eliminate lower back pain.
Prescription Pain Relievers
Sometimes you may require prescription-strength NSAIDs or opioid pills to help with the pain. It is essential to consult your healthcare practitioner if you are taking other medications like over-the-counter medicine to prevent overdosing on given active ingredients. Your provider can also recommend muscle relaxants to ease painful muscle spasms.
Talk Therapy
Seeing a psychologist or lower back pain can look like a strange thing. However, researchers have noted that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the effective mechanisms both in the short-term and long-term in dealing with back pain. CBT can target how you think about physical activity when experiencing back pain and why you avoid it to assist in changing your reaction when active. Individuals doing CBT have significantly reported a decline in pain and disability, so do not be afraid to try it.
Antidepressant Medications
Regardless of being depressed, your physicians can recommend antidepressant medications as part of treatment for lower back pain. It is yet to be determined how antidepressants eliminate chronic back pain, but it is believed it influences the chemical messengers affecting the pain signals. Antidepressants are usually most effective if you are experiencing neuropathic pain that occurs from the pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists can teach you how to stand, sit and move to maintain your spine properly aligned and eliminate strain on your back. Moreover, the therapist can teach you specific exercises which strengthen the core muscles supporting your back. Having a strong core effectively prevents more back pain in the long term. Although it takes time, increasing your flexibility, strength, and endurance reduces back pain.
Spinal Injections
Your pharmacist or doctor may prescribe a spinal injection to lower your back pain. There exist different types of injections that your pain specialist can utilize. For instance, a corticosteroid injection relieves inflammation leading to pain. Based on the type of injection, your specialist can limit the amount of doses per year to prevent potential side effects.
Back Surgery
Usually, if a bulging disc inserts pressure on the nerve, your surgeon may suggest a discectomy to eliminate some disc material. Alternatively, a laminectomy is also effective in decompressing an area with pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Another surgical operation is spinal fusion which is vital in stabilizing your spine. Similar to other surgeries, these operations are accompanied by risks meaning you should consider surgery as the last option.
Lower back pain can be overwhelming and frustrating, hampering your daily undertakings. If you are a candidate struggling with it, contact SamWell Institute for Pain Management in Livingston, New Jersey. At the institute, Dr. Jay M. Shah is dedicated to helping you return to your normal life and feel better again. To get started, call their office or request an online appointment using their online scheduling tool today.