Archive for July, 2009
Physical Therapy for Back Pain
Friday, July 31st, 2009
If you’ve been having with back pain for over two weeks, you should probably take advantage of physical therapy for lower back pain. It can also benefit you if you have frequent bouts of back pain. Physical therapy will decrease your pain, allow you more movement, and help you learn how to avoid back pain in the future.
There are two main types of back pain. Chronic back pain is the most common and the result of wear and tear to your back over time. Acute back pain is usually the result of an injury or other onetime event.
According to the back pain handout from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the first person you should consult when you experience back pain is your primary care doctor. Most of the time, the physician can treat you. If not, the doctor can refer you to the correct specialist.
Short-Term Solutions
The least expensive option is to use hot or cold packs for your physical therapy for back pain. Besides reducing the amount of pain you feel, heat can also cause your body to increase the flow of blood to the back. Cold packs can decrease the inflammation around your back and can numb deep pain. However, according to NIAMS, this type of treatment does not cure the cause of chronic back pain.
The effects of muscle relaxants as physical therapy for back pain has been documented by the Cochrane Library. In a series of carefully controlled studies, they discovered patients experienced a decrease in pain when they used muscle relaxants. With the pain relief also came side effects including drowsiness and dizziness.
Long-Term Solutions
Exercise can address chronic back pain, according to an article published by the Cochrane Library. It is not effective for acute back pain. If you stretch and exercise your back regularly, it can be a vital part of your physical therapy.
BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal) published an article in August of 2009 which documents the effectiveness of the Alexander Technique. How it works is that patients are given a series of six lessons that focus on their awareness. Teachers observe patients and use light hand conduct to uncover the student’s physical and mental distractions. This treatment can cost about $4,600 for each quality adjusted life year you gain. Expect about twice that much if you want to use a two-step program that includes exercises.
New Medical Procedure
The journal American Family Physician outlines the benefits of a new procedure called vertebroplasty to treat back pain. The surgery can be paid for by Medicare or other insurance. How it works is that bone cement is injected into a fractured vertebra. The end result is that the back becomes stabilized, thus addressing the cause of back pain. Less than one percent of procedures performed result in any significant complications. It has been shown to be effective in providing pain relief and increased mobility with 24 hours after surgery for 90 percent of patients.
Other posts you might find helpful:
7 Steps for Pain Relief for Back
Thoughts on Lower Back Pain Relief
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