Dealing with Back Pain

What's the very best method of dealing with back pain?

Educate yourself...

Read all about back pain, talk with other people who have had it - get as much information on back pain as you possibly can - AND...

...be willing to experiment with different pain relief techniques and back pain treatments.

Before you begin a home remedy for back pain, have your doctor evaluate your condition to make sure that there is no serious medical condition or disease causing your pain.

Unfortunately, there is seldom a real cure for back pain. But the more information you have at your disposal, the likely it is that you will be successful at finding at least short-term, if not long-term, pain relief.

Back Pain Reduction - 3 Tips

We are all unique in the way we feel pain and in the way we respond to pain treatments. Because of this, it's not likely that someone can tell you with certainty that a particular back pain treatment or back pain product will be effective for you.

When dealing with back pain - beware of the over-stated sales pitch!

That is why gathering your own information on back pain is so critical. Properly prepared, you and your health care provider can make informed, educated decisions on your treatment.

Whenever I've had a back injury, back spasms, or my back "goes out", as they say, these are the tips I follow:

Tip #1...

Start by choosing a back pain treatments or combination of treatments that best fit your lifestyle. By doing so, you are much more likely to stick with them.

Tip #2...

Recognize that treating back pain is often a process of trial and error, and be flexible, and willing to try various forms of treatment.

Tip #3...

I consider myself lucky...
Although I use a variety of pain relief treatments, I have found exercise to be the most consistent at relieving my back pain - and other pains, as well.

I do a combination of...

• back stretching exercise
• back strengthening exercises
• aerobic exercise, and
• walking for exercise

Exercise, of course, should only be done AFTER you have talked it over with your health care provider.

Defeating Back Pain Forever

Whether you have chronic back pain or an occasional flare-up, instead of merely dealing with back pain, make your motto...

...defeating back pain forever!

We all know that in many cases that isn't possible, but if we tell ourselves it is, who knows? Maybe, just maybe, through the right back pain resources you will find a way to be pain free.

Thankfully, there are literally thousands of resources, if not more, on back pain. It's a pretty big business. After all, reports say that as many as four out of five people suffer from some type of back pain at least once during their lives.

However, the downside of having all of this information available is that it can get very confusing. And some of the information can be quite unreliable. How do you sort through all of it? Use your instincts. They are often a very good indicator of whether something is reliable or just a scam.

Now, to get you started on your "Dealing with Back Pain" research project, you may want to try...

Back Pain Books: Some of the back pain books I have enjoyed most are listed on my Reference page.

When I started doing my own research, long before the Internet was in vogue, I was amazed to find the diversity in the way different authors talk about back pain. On the other hand, after giving it more thought, I realized that since back pain is so unique from one individual to another, so of course are its causes and treatment methods.

The bottom line - you may find better insight into your pain by reading more than one author.

Chiropractors and Back Pain Specialists: Strengthening the core muscles through stomach exercise, back stretching and back strengthening exercises, is typically the best solution for long-term back health. However, all of the health care providers that I have talked with have agree that chiropractic care can be beneficial in many circumstances. In my situation, I rely on a chiropractor for the emergencies and then try to exercise regularly for back pain prevention.

In creating your long-term treatment plan you may want to ask your doctor to suggest a spine specialist or an orthopedic doctor.

Internet: Incredible amounts of information are available via the Internet. You will find websites that are sponsored by educational institutions, medical facilities, government organizations and personal contributors, such as me.

As for my website and others like it, the author, who in this case is me, is simply relaying their own personal story in hopes that they can help others. The authors do not claim in most cases to be an authority on topics outside of their own personal experience.

These websites can be uniquely valuable in that they often provide in-depth discussion on dealing with back pain, from a patient's point of view (the author), not that of a practitioner.

However valuable, these sites, including mine, should NOT be substituted for the opinion of a professional.

My Reference page provides URL's that may be of use to you. Keep in mind, the listing is limited and there are many other great back pain resources available on the Internet. Do a Google search for your keyword phrase and you may be amazed at how many "hits" you get!

Forums, Blogs and Social Networks: Group specific forums, topic related blogs, and social networks, such as MySpace and Facebook are the Internet's way of making it easy for you to expand your circle of acquaintances. By so doing you can readily communicate with people who may have problems similar to yours, and advice as to treatment.

When selecting a forum that has an online support group or community, check out the dates on the posts. If you don't see many current postings you may not be in a very active community. A forum that has recent member contributions is more likely to offer timely advice.

DailyStrength.org offers a wide range of support groups, including one specifically for dealing with back pain. Many orthopedic websites also have some very good forums. If you're shy and want to go incognito, that's fine - just use a screen name when you sing on as a new member.

Support Groups: Do you have Fibromyalgia and back pain, or is your back pain from stress or arthritis?

Your health care provider may be able to provide you with information on local support groups. If not, a search on the Internet, for the words support group and the name of your town or city, may bring up the names of some groups.

Discussing your problems with others and hearing their stories on dealing with back pain can provide invaluable insight as to possible pain relieving treatments. In this type of setting you're likely to find someone who may enjoy doing pain relieving activities - maybe a buddy to practice yoga or Pilates with, or someone who enjoys walking for exercise.

Getting out and doing something with others can be very uplifting and a great distraction from pain.

Overcoming Back Pain Blog and Newsletter:  If you sign up for my Overcoming Back Pain Blog and my free Overcoming Back Pain Newsletter you willl receive regular tips and techniques that can be used for dealing with back pain. 

You can also check out my Back Pain Help page, which features archives of some of the most popular blogs.

Be persistent and don't let anyone tell you that there is no hope for your pain. Without hope, dealing with back pain can be miserable, and who wants that?