Your spine supports quite a bit of stress, whether it’s from sitting at a desk or sustaining an injury.
Common cases of back pain often heal through gentle stretches, over-the-counter pain relief, and lifestyle changes. However, many cases persist, leading to conditions that aren’t as receptive to tried and true methods.
Severe cases eventually raise the question: Is it time for back surgery?
Here’s a closer look at care options, red flags to watch, medical interventions, and holistic treatments.
Where’s the Best Place to Start?
Listen to your body.
When researching back pain, you’re often faced with a mountain of information. Talking to your doctor, regardless of the severity, will help you get the early care you need to prevent persistent pain. If you have a common case, they may recommend the following home treatments:
- Inflammation reduction (heat and ice-packing)
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like Ibuprofen
- Topical treatments like relieving salves
- Light movement (i.e., yoga, walking, stretching)
Of course, context is everything.
If you threw out your back lifting a box in the attic, tell your doctor, as they may recommend physical therapy or prescriptions. If you have constant nerve pain in your back, let them know, as severe cases may require lumbar decompression and fusion surgery.
Being straightforward is key to getting early care, as doctors will often monitor non-surgical treatments (like physical therapy) for up to a year. They want to see if the issue self-corrects with consistent treatment first.
Red Flags to Watch
Listen to your body for possible red flags that require urgent treatment. In these cases, doctors will quickly move from conservative standard care to immediate clinical intervention.
One such case is Cauda Equina Syndrome.
If you suddenly lose control of your bowels or bladder and experience saddle anesthesia, which is numbness in the groin and buttocks, surgery is imperative. This means there is severe nerve root compression in the spinal cord. It often requires two surgeries, a lumbar laminectomy and a discectomy.
If your back pain is characterized by progressive weakness, numbness, or tingling, you may have another severe case of nerve compression causing neurological issues.
Severe back pain accompanied by fever, rapid weight loss, or intense pain at night could be a sign of infection or tumors. Call your doctor or visit an ER for an urgent screening.
Of course, if you severely injured your back in an accident, you may require urgent surgery and stabilization.
Holistic Approaches
Talk to your doctor about holistic approaches to managing pain. For instance, back pain can be caused by sedentary lifestyles. Embracing a more structured, active lifestyle can be a game-changer in preventing chronic back pain, which relieve pressure on compressed spinal nerves.
Walking is one of the best things you can do. It aligns your body and gets the blood flowing to your brain. You need plenty of mental motivation to commit to true lifestyle changes.
You can also try water therapy, which is highly recommended for older adults with back pain. The goal is to support and strengthen the spine.
If your back pain is caused by prolonged posture issues, it’s time to make some major ergonomic shifts.
Use a desk chair with proper lumbar support or consider a standing desk for alignment. Adjust your computer monitor so that it sits right below eye level. Your elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle.
Supplement physical and ergonomic changes with an anti-inflammatory diet rich in Omega-3s, leafy greens, and antioxidants. Enjoy an anti-inflammatory smoothie after your morning walk for added spinal health support.
Get in Alignment
Listen to your back and talk to your doctor about the best course of action.
You may require a combination approach that includes an anti-inflammatory diet, strength exercises, and OTC pain relief. More advanced interventions may be necessary, which speaks to the importance of early intervention.
Follow our blog to adopt a wellness-focused mindset that will give you even more tools to navigate back pain.
