Chronic Back Pain Treatment: Quick relief from long-term problems

The human back is a complicated structure of bones, muscles, and other tissues. It forms the posterior part of the body’s trunk, from the neck to the pelvis, and supports the entire body. As people grow older, their bodies get weaker. Muscle elasticity and tone deteriorate and vertebral discs start losing their fluid and flexibility. This decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae, As a result of this, even small, once insignificant injuries to the back, may now lead to back pain. If not treated in time, or if the cause is serious, this may turn chronic, Chronic back pain can become a burden for a lifetime.

There are various ways of treating chronic back pain. While medicines and physical therapies help a lot in relieving the patient of the pain, if relief is not achieved even after prolonged treatment, surgery is an option.
The most recommended treatment plan is to take painkilling medication along with one of the following- acupuncture, exercise classes or manual therapy. In Acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into the skin at certain points on the body in order to unblock the life force and relieve symptoms of back pain. Exercise is basically designed to strengthen muscles and improve general body posture. Aerobic activities, muscle strengthening or stretching exercises are included in the treatment. Manual therapy includes spinal mobilization, spinal manipulation and massage. Physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic can be used to give manual therapy to the patient.
These treatments are, however, directed to a physical source of pain and do not address the psychosomatic source of symptoms. In a lot of cases chronic pains are actually caused due to some emotional or psychological turmoil. In such cases traditional treatments for chronic back pain fail. Combined treatment programmes of exercise as well as psychological treatment are recommended in such situations.

Back Pain Specialist: Special treatment for a Special Back

Back pain, also known as dorsalgia, is a very common condition that can usually affect adults of all ages. It is pain felt in the back and mostly originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Back pain can be classified either on the basis of time period as acute back pain or chronic back pain, or on the basis of area of the body affected, as specific back pain or non-specific back pain. Chronic back pain is not as common as acute back pain is. Nonetheless, it is very wide-spread.

In case of a back pain, the most common tendency among people is to avoid going to a doctor at all. Painkillers or other such medicines are the first preference of a majority of people. A nagging back problem generally may show us to the door of a general health physician, however, specialists are rarely considered. It is, however, advisable to consult a specialist for back pain who will prescribe the best medication for pain management.

Some specialists that one can consult in case of back pain are Orthopedists, Rheumatologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Physiatrists etc. Since an orthopedic doctor specializes in problems of the musculoskeletal system, he/she can treat problems such as ruptured disks, sciatica, scoliosis or low back pain. Rheumatologists also specialize in musculoskeletal problems and can hence treat back and neck problems such as spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis and osteoporosis. However, if the pain is chronic, a neurologist might be the best option since neurologists specialize in determining the origin of pain. Neurosurgeons can be the next option if surgical treatment is required. A physiatrist will be able to assist one in figuring out whether the back problem is due to posture, muscles, the nervous system or the inter-vertebral discs.