BACKing up your Health
By Alex Berger
October 2, 2018
October 2, 2018
Back pain is something that I have experienced for a good portion of my life. In fact, I have not written about it in the past, but I have been to the point where my back pain was controlling my life, but thankfully, I found help. Since then, my life has improved significantly and I truly believe that back pain limits you from living your life to the fullest potential, which is why it is so important to me to help others break through their pain and try to avoid and improve their back pain, if possible. Of course, there are definitely some debilitating illnesses that bring along back pain, making it harder (and sometimes even impossible) to avoid and treat, but for the majority of people with some sort of back pain in their lives, there are simple things that you can do to try and limit your pain, in order to improve your daily life.
According to NINDS, “If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. About 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work days. In a large survey, more than a quarter of adults reported experiencing low back pain during the past 3 months. Men and women are equally affected by low back pain, which can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation that leaves the person incapacitated. Pain can begin abruptly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time due to age-related changes of the spine. Sedentary lifestyles also can set the stage for low back pain, especially when a weekday routine of getting too little exercise is punctuated by strenuous weekend workout. Most low back pain is acute, or short term, and lasts a few days to a few weeks. It tends to resolve on its own with self-care and there is no residual loss of function. The majority of acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back (the spine, muscle, intervertebral discs, and nerves) fit together and move.” Since (a lot of) back pain tends to resolve on its own with the help of self-care, I wanted to give you all a few self-care tips, that will hopefully help you live as pain-free as possible:
Healthy Eating
I know what you are thinking - there is no way that food can contribute to, or help with my back pain. Right? I’m here to tell you that you are wrong. I’m sure you’ve heard of anti-inflammatory foods before and if you are struggling with pain of any sort, you need to make sure you are eating your fair share of foods that will decrease inflammation within your body. So, for example, a primarily plant-based diet can definitely help reduce inflammation and eating things like flax, chia seeds, fish, avocado, nuts, etc. can help, as well. While healthy eating alone will most likely not completely solve your body pain, it can definitely help reduce it, especially if you incorporate other pain solving techniques, as well.
Healthy Eating
I know what you are thinking - there is no way that food can contribute to, or help with my back pain. Right? I’m here to tell you that you are wrong. I’m sure you’ve heard of anti-inflammatory foods before and if you are struggling with pain of any sort, you need to make sure you are eating your fair share of foods that will decrease inflammation within your body. So, for example, a primarily plant-based diet can definitely help reduce inflammation and eating things like flax, chia seeds, fish, avocado, nuts, etc. can help, as well. While healthy eating alone will most likely not completely solve your body pain, it can definitely help reduce it, especially if you incorporate other pain solving techniques, as well.
Exercise
My friend had pretty severe back pain until this year. It started as lower back pain and migrated to upper back pain. She always thought that exercising would increase the pain since she would be lifting weights and ‘irritating’ those muscles that were already inflamed, but come to find out, finding the correct workout program for her actually helped with her pain and now she lives an (almost) pain-free lifestyle. Lifting weights strengthened her back muscles, instead of irritating them and her workout includes plenty of stretching, which she definitely needed, as well. Keep in mind that if you are struggling with back pain, all workouts will not help. You need to make sure you find a workout environment that will tailor a program that will help, not hurt you.
My friend had pretty severe back pain until this year. It started as lower back pain and migrated to upper back pain. She always thought that exercising would increase the pain since she would be lifting weights and ‘irritating’ those muscles that were already inflamed, but come to find out, finding the correct workout program for her actually helped with her pain and now she lives an (almost) pain-free lifestyle. Lifting weights strengthened her back muscles, instead of irritating them and her workout includes plenty of stretching, which she definitely needed, as well. Keep in mind that if you are struggling with back pain, all workouts will not help. You need to make sure you find a workout environment that will tailor a program that will help, not hurt you.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic services can be essential for relieving back, neck, and other persistent pains. In a study funded by NCCIH that examined long-term effects in more than 600 people with low-back pain, results suggested that chiropractic care (involving spinal manipulation) was at least as effective as conventional medical care for up to 18 months. But, even with chiropractic care, sometimes you need other platforms to get pain relief from, as well. AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine offers just that. They say, “Dr. Alfieri strongly believes in an integrated approach to physical rehabilitation and pain management. A key component of his success is his ability to integrate many platforms of pain management for his patients in order for them to improve their quality of life. Having four different type of doctors under one roof, is not only convenient for the patient, but it is helpful for treatment plans to allow for fast and effective outcomes. He feels that each patient’s experience with AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine will maximize their ability to not only get better, but to stay better.” With the collaborative approach that local NJ company, AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine offers for back pain and other pain, you are able to achieve your pain relief goals in a fast and conservative way unlike the majority of other chiropractic centers, which just offers chiropractic services.
Chiropractic services can be essential for relieving back, neck, and other persistent pains. In a study funded by NCCIH that examined long-term effects in more than 600 people with low-back pain, results suggested that chiropractic care (involving spinal manipulation) was at least as effective as conventional medical care for up to 18 months. But, even with chiropractic care, sometimes you need other platforms to get pain relief from, as well. AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine offers just that. They say, “Dr. Alfieri strongly believes in an integrated approach to physical rehabilitation and pain management. A key component of his success is his ability to integrate many platforms of pain management for his patients in order for them to improve their quality of life. Having four different type of doctors under one roof, is not only convenient for the patient, but it is helpful for treatment plans to allow for fast and effective outcomes. He feels that each patient’s experience with AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine will maximize their ability to not only get better, but to stay better.” With the collaborative approach that local NJ company, AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine offers for back pain and other pain, you are able to achieve your pain relief goals in a fast and conservative way unlike the majority of other chiropractic centers, which just offers chiropractic services.
Stress Relief
A lot of the time, inflammation and other pain stems from built-up stress, so you want to make sure to limit and reduce your stress as much as possible. There are many ways to do so and it varies from person to person. A few great ideas are taking bubble baths, practicing yoga or meditation, journaling, or even getting a massage.
A lot of the time, inflammation and other pain stems from built-up stress, so you want to make sure to limit and reduce your stress as much as possible. There are many ways to do so and it varies from person to person. A few great ideas are taking bubble baths, practicing yoga or meditation, journaling, or even getting a massage.