Chronic Back Pain

• pain that does not respond to treatment within a reasonable period of time
• pain that lasts 3 months (some experts say 6)
• lasting pain due to an unknown cause

Although chronic back pain refers to a type of pain, and the length of time during which someone experiences that pain, the definition is not an indicator of the pain's intensity, as in the case of acute back pain.

Nor, does the term chronic suggest that the pain is constant or becoming worse. Instead, one individual might have intermittent episodes of severe chronic back pain while another suffers from continuous light pain. However, both may be diagnosed as having chronic pain.

Chronic Back Pain Cause

For the lucky few, a doctor will quickly identify the cause of their pain. In some instances common illnesses or diseases, such as the following, are easier to identify.

Spinal Osteoarthritis - a degenerative joint disease
Osteoporosis - thinning of the bones
Spinal stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal in one or more areas
Spondylolisthesis - a vertebra slip
Fibromyalgia - chronic widespread pain and other disorders
Sciatica - pain symptoms caused by compression of the sciatica nerve
Herniated disk - a ruptured disk which puts pressure on surrounding nerves

Unfortunately, for many people a quick diagnosis won't happen, resulting in unresolved non-specific back pain that can last for months, years or even decades.

Why, with all the available technology, is a cause of back pain so hard to diagnose?

Think about the complexity of the spine, and the intricate connection of its nerves, joints disks and muscles. And, add to that the complexity of the human mind....

YES, our minds can play havoc on us and contribute immensely to pain, as well as our perception of it.

When the cause of chronic back pain is not identifiable as a physical condition, psychological indicators may be taken into consideration, with stress, anxiety and depression being some of the key factors that have been associated with long-term pain.

Dr. John Sarno, has written a couple of great books, Mind Over Back Pain and Healing Back Pain - The Mind-Body Connection, which discuss Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS). In his books he delves into the emotional processes that alter the state of our muscles, thus creating various forms of pain.

Dr. Sarno is not alone in his theory that our emotional state can have a great impact on health. Other medical professionals have concured on this, as well.

If you are experiencing unresolved non-specific pain, whether in your back, legs, hips, neck or elsewhere, it may be beneficial to do some reading about the observed evidence fo the mind and body connection. And, the powers of the mind over back pain.

Regardless of what you think may be the source of your pain, talk with your doctor to make sure that nothing serious is going on. Let them recommend treatment appropriate to your overall health.

Chronic Back Pain Relief

There are MANY forms of back pain treatment available for chronic back pain management. The question is what will work best for you. Finding the right method is often a matter of trial and error, but a doctor will typically consider one or more of the following as a starting point.

• exercise
• physical therapy
• chiropractor care
• back pain products
• massage therapy
• relaxation techniques to reduce stress
• acupuncture

You may also be interested in:
Back Pain Treatment, Extreme Lower Back Pain, Morning Back Pain, Prevent Back Pain

In my case I have experimented with a variety of methods for back pain relief. Some work better than others, while some only work occasionally. However, the single most effective thing that I do for pain relief is exercise. Nothing extreme - just a good combination of:

• walking and aerobic exercise (my favorites)
• back stretching and back strengthening exercises
• maintaining good posture when standing and sitting

AND, last but not least - a bit of back pampering! Spoil your back rotten and it can't help but to start to feel a little bit better!

I have also found meditation helpful. Although I'm a beginner in the practice, I've used is successfully to rest and relax my mind and body on nights when pain prevents me from sleeping.

A book written by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph. D., called Full Catastrophe Living - Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, has been very helpful in getting my "meditation practice" going. You may want to check it out...