Back pain is really common in the U.S., folks, with the American Chiropractic Association reporting that 80 percent of the population will have it at one point in their lives (https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/What-is-Chiropractic/Back-Pain-Facts-and-Statistics). A lot of lower back pain is actually mechanical, from things like bad posture, repetitive movement or incorrect lifting techniques. Still, no matter how it is caused, none of us want to suffer from it!
Chances are, if you’ve gone to the doctor for back pain, you probably receive a superficial treatment. If that didn’t work, you may be thinking about trying something more serious, like surgery. Before you do, you should give some natural back pain solutions a try. You never know–one of these could be the answer you were looking for!
Visit a chiropractor
A qualified chiropractor may just be the way to address chronic back pain. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, for example, found that chiropractic care was better than medication for those suffering from musculoskeletal pain (https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-156-1-201201030-00002?aimhp=&). Look for a chiropractor who is licensed–your doctor or physical therapist may be able to refer you to someone, too.
Take stretching sessions or yoga classes
Stretching is important, but how you stretch matters, too. Doing it wrong can lead to injury and irritation, while doing it right can provide back pain and other pain relief. This is where stretching classes come in as you can learn to do this the right way. Ask your doctor where to find these classes; if you’re in physical therapy, your therapist should have this information.
Yoga, which also involves a lot of stretching, has been found to offer back pain relief, as evidenced by a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal (https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-155-9-201111010-00003?articleid=1033130). You’ll find yoga classes offered everywhere, from your local gym to online classes.
Get regular massages
When you get a massage, your body releases endorphins, This natural chemical help you relax and eases pain. In one study, people with back pain who had massages over ten weeks experienced better back pain relief than from their usual care routines, and those benefits lasted for six months or more, according to a comparison published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-155-1-201107050-00002?articleid=747008).
Back pain can really eat into your quality of life, but it doesn’t have to! Before you consider invasive options, give some natural remedies a try.
