Chronic conditions are frequently misunderstood by the general population, but as many of sufferers have discovered, doctors can easily fall short on the task of patient support as well. The truth is that very few people not currently suffering with some sort of chronic pain are able to understand how much it can affect the daily life of the individual dealing with it. For many people, finding someone who can help them with a supportive chronic back pain treatment with genuine understanding is the single most challenging part of dealing with their condition.

Why is finding supportive treatment so difficult? In many cases, it is simply impossible for an individual who does not live with chronic conditions to understand how taxing it can be on the mind and body. In reality, pain can infect nearly every task during the course of the day, which is why so many patients find that their overall happiness diminishes as support fails. When it is the support of the health care provider this can, in-turn, reduce the quality of life that the individual is able to maintain, and result in lower success rates, if not rendering treatment completely ineffective. Read more »

Most people have a few methods of pain relief that they use as an automatic go-to, such as certain rubs or ibuprofen. However, when pain becomes severe or chronic, it may be time to check into other options. Surgery may come to the forefront of your mind, but it is certainly not the only option out there. In fact, there are some techniques that you may not even realize can work wonders. These complementary pain management treatments are offered by doctors and aim to help those suffering.

Biofeedback is one of these. With this practice your body has small electrical sensors attached to it which send feedback, or information, to your body, helping you learn to control certain bodily functions. This is a way to use controlled thoughts to affect your body, such as learning how to relax muscles and reducing pain. With biofeedback you learn how to take personal control over your own physiological functions by increasing control over your pain perception, heart rate, muscle tone and other body responses. Read more »

People suffering from chronic pain may not be aware that something as simple, readily available, and affordable as massage therapy can bring significant relief.

Studies have proven the effectiveness of massage therapy for several different kinds of chronic pain, including pain caused by arthritis and fibromyalgia. Because these are two of the more common causes of chronic pain, massage therapy is an important treatment option for many people suffering from chronic pain to consider.

Not only can massage increase a person’s range of motion by relaxing and stretching important muscles, it has several other benefits that can alleviate pain.

One way that massage therapy benefits people who suffer from chronic pain is by encouraging the body to release higher amounts of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical released by the human brain that, among other things, reduces pain naturally. Read more »

At a special center for pain management, experts understand that many chronic pain conditions can be extremely frustrating. Postherpetic Neuralgia is one such condition. If you suffer from postherpetic neuralgia, there is no reason to live with your pain. Consult with an experienced physician and develop a treatment plan as soon as possible.

Postherpetic Neuralgia is a complication that sometimes occurs after contracting Shingles, a disease caused by the chickenpox virus. Shingles patients develop a painful rash and blisters that clear up over the course of a few weeks. These rashes are usually confined to specific areas of the body, including the face or chest. Occasionally, nerves are damaged during an outbreak of Shingles, causing pain that remains even after the blisters have disappeared. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia. Read more »

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese practice that is quickly finding a niche in Western medicine, has long been used as a pain management treatment. Acupuncture as pain management treatment is considered a valuable complementary treatment to reduce both chronic and acute physical pain as well as emotional and mental issues.

When you go to your first appointment, plan on arriving early to give an adequate amount of time to speak with your acupuncturist. This will allow time for you to give a medical history and discuss specific trouble areas. In addition, it allows you to ask any questions that you may have without feeling rushed and offers a chance to make sure you feel comfortable with the qualifications of your practitioner in this particular pain management treatment.

You should wear comfortable, loose clothing that can be manipulated in case a sleeve, pant leg or other part of the material needs to be moved to access an area. Some practitioners will ask that you change into a gown to avoid these issues. You will likely be set up in either a recliner type of chair or on a table where you can lie down in a comfortable position for the duration of the session. Read more »

While you may need serious intervention to deal with your chronic back pain, that does not mean you cannot do a little something at home to take the edge off. Making changes to your diet can complement other methods of pain relief that you may be receiving. With a little forethought, you can start easing chronic back pain with your diet.

You have heard it a million times: Drink your eight glasses of water a day. This is not just some trick the bottled water companies came up with to increase sales. Hydrating your body is actually beneficial to your muscles and the padding surrounding your joints. Having adequate water in your system is also necessary to promote muscular healing.

Most foods you put into your mouth are either helping or hindering the healing process. Choose anti-inflammatory foods, which reduce the inflammation associated with chronic back pain and allow the area to begin healing instead. Ginger is one such food and can be taken in its raw form, cooked, or in a tincture, or “tea.” Other anti-inflammatory foods include whole grains, dark leafy veggies, nuts, foods high in omega-3s such as fatty fish, tomatoes, garlic, soy, avocados and green tea. Try to eat foods in as close to their whole form if possible to maintain the highest level of nutrients. Read more »

Whether you have recently suffered an injury or have begun to experience some twinges in your back, take advantage of this early warning sign. Even if you have not yet experienced back pain, be aware that this is one of the most common problems that send people to the doctor’s office. There are several things you can do to start avoiding back pain from putting a stop to those activities that you love.

One of the most effective ways to start avoiding back pain is to maintain a healthy weight. That spare tire puts a strain on your back and will aggravate even a small amount of pain. If you are more than a few pounds over your ideal weight, take steps to lose that extra load.

There are plenty of reasons to exercise on a daily basis. Reducing or preventing back pain is just one of many. While many people are tempted to reduce their activity, moderate exercise is a much more effective way to ease the pain. This is because the physical activity reduces muscle tension and inflammation. Read more »