If you have back pain that occurs for three months or even longer, your condition could be considered chronic. Back pain comes and goes, bringing frustration yet temporary relief at the same time. Managing the condition can be challenging if you cannot seem to find its cause. Let’s explore back pain treatments for seniors that could help them both physically and mentally.
What Causes Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain can be a result of an injury but is normally age-related. These are its common causes:
- Spinal stenosis — this occurs when the spaces within your spine narrow, causing nerve pain
- Spinal arthritis — inflammation of the spine’s facet joints
- Myofascial pain syndrome — an explained pain condition that affects your muscles and fascia
- Disc problems, like a bulging disc
It is challenging to determine the real cause of chronic back pain in certain cases. It is advisable for you to receive a second opinion from a specialist if your doctor has exhausted all types of diagnoses related to back pain. Individuals with the condition should not make impulsive decisions or go for major medical treatments until a specialist confirms the cause of the pain. The condition could worsen if the wrong steps are taken.
If your condition doesn’t seem to be treatable, an alternative could be working with a doctor to manage the pain with non-surgical procedures.
Non-surgical Treatment Options for Chronic Back Pain
Physical Therapy
One common way to tackle chronic back pain is exercise. It is a treatment option that is highly prioritized under the guidance of your spine physical therapist. However, these exercises should be customized to your condition and symptoms. It is advisable to maintain the exercise regime at home for better results.
Other examples of physical therapy targeting chronic back pain include testing your pain threshold, retraining posture, core strengthening and stretching exercises.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Chronic back pain can take a toll on a person emotionally and physically. To cope with the psychological aspects that come with chronic pain, you may be asked to consult a rehabilitation psychologist. He or she may recommend meditation, tai chi, yoga, and many other cognitive and relaxation exercises to distract you from focusing too much on pain.
Lifestyle Adjustments
It is critical to listen to the body and learn to adapt when you have chronic pain. You might want to make a couple of trips while carrying groceries instead of lugging items that are too heavy for your body to handle in one go. Be aware of the activities that cause your pain to worsen and if possible, avoid them altogether. It is also proven that nicotine delays healing and accelerates pain, so those who have back pain should not smoke.
Diet
Diets that are high in trans fats, processed foods and sugars are highly inflammatory. Individuals who suffer from back pain are advised to consult a doctor to determine if their diets could be contributing to the pain. A healthy weight could also mitigate back pain as the pressure on your spine is reduced.
Pharmacologic Treatments
Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication and analgesics can also control chronic back pain. Most of these, however, bring about undesirable side effects to the body. It is best to first consult with your doctor or therapist to receive the most appropriate treatment for your body!
