If you tend to have a problem with a splitting pain in the back, you know it can be quite an agony. You can sit, move or just lie still, but sometimes the pain won’t go away whatever you do. Things go so far that you even feel like you have no energy left in your body and you lose any will to do anything. It is exhausting and frustrating, but don’t worry – there are solutions to the problem! You can do things in order to make this situation more bearable.
Reduce stress and don’t think negatively
You are probably familiar with this fact, but when we are under a lot of stress and feel negative emotions, it increases the body’s sensitivity. Therefore, we feel more pain than we usually would. You can try to take control of your feelings if you want to find relief from chronic back pain. Things that can be quite helpful are listening to music, watching TV shows and movies you like or talking to someone you care about.
If you have a hobby, like painting, for instance, it can also be of great help. Do what you find enjoyable and you will see that there will be no room for stress and negative thoughts, which means less pain for your back as well.
Deep breathing and meditation
Meditation and deep breathing exercises can help ease the pain if done properly. They release the tension and tightness from your muscles, which makes them loosen up. There are many types of meditation, you just have to learn which one is the most appropriate for you. If you do not have any experience with it, first you can take a professional class. When it comes to breathing, it is so powerful because of the repetition process and the ability to concentrate and clear your mind. If you pay attention to the way you breathe, your body will relax completely. Find a quiet place where no one will disturb you and pick a comfortable body position before you start.
Exercise whenever you find time
Maybe you will be skeptical about this, because if you feel so much pain, how can you exercise a lot? However, you should know this – exercising strengthens the muscles, and that prevents further back pain. Exercise on a daily basis, but keep in mind that those should be less strenuous physical activities. Walking, jogging, swimming – these will do. Avoid anything that requires bending, pushing, twisting, pulling or lifting heavy objects.
Contact a medical professional
Pain that goes down past your knee and numbness in your leg, foot, groin or rectal area, or fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, weakness and sweating – if you have any or all of these symptoms, it is time to visit a doctor. You need an urgent evaluation if you lost control over your bladder or your bowels. Feel free to turn to an expert in this field, a distinguished spine surgeon like Dr Timothy Steel. If you feel pain that won’t go away even after several weeks, that is definitely a significant sign that you need a medical intervention.
Considering spinal surgery
95 percent of cases of chronic back pain can be managed and treated, especially if you follow the several abovementioned pieces of advice. Yet, if you’re dealing with a spinal cord or nerve root compression and weakness or severe pain in the arms and legs – you should definitely consider having spinal surgery. Doctors mostly try to avoid these drastic measures, doing everything in their power not to come to this. But no matter how well-trained they are, sometimes the worst-case scenario cannot be avoided.
All of this might sound intimidating to you, but a pain-free life is worth going under the knife.
Those who have chronic back pain know how challenging and difficult that is. Sometimes the pain is so powerful that you cannot do anything, or you don’t even feel like doing a thing. That is why you should know these five things, which you may consider doing. Think positively, meditate and breathe well and exercise and hopefully, you will not need a medical professional and surgery.