Is Your Back Killing You? Explore Treatment Options For Back Pain

About 80% of Americans suffer from some sort of back pain. Back pain appears at number five in the list of most common reasons for people to visit the doctors. For some of these patients, back pain is only an annoyance. For others, the pain becomes so great it interferes with their daily lives. Back pain has many causes, such as injury and weight gain. Some common approaches to relieving back pain include professional chiropractic care, physical therapy, pain medication, and lifestyle changes.

Twenty two million people visit a chiropractor each year. Of those, 35% are being treated for back pain. When surveyed, 59% of those who suffer with back pain said they were satisfied with treatment from a chiropractor. Chiropractic care offers many benefits. Going to a chiropractor can alleviate pain in the neck and back. Chiropractors often use a hands on approach to treatment. If a patient, after consulting their physician, decides it would be wise to have spinal manipulation, they can have this done safely and correctly by a chiropractor

Chiropractors also serve as knowledgeable guides for patients with newly diagnosed back pain and for those who are currently being treated with chronic back pain. Chiropractors may advise patients to use hot and cold packs, see a physical therapist, and do certain exercises to relieve back pain. This guidance is instrumental to helping the patient recover.

Physical therapy is another popular option for those suffering with back pain. When surveyed, 55% of those who suffer with back pain said they were satisfied with treatment from physical therapy. A common misconception of back pain, especially chronic lower back pain, is that lying down will alleviate the pain. The truth is chronic back pain sufferers should be stretching, and building their back muscles. In the end this will help with pain relief. Physical therapy effectively teaches patients safe ways to stretch and exercise their back. Physical therapy also teaches patients safe ways to lift heavy objects. If needed, physical therapy can help chronic back pain sufferers learn how to do every day activities differently, resulting in less pain.

Some patients who suffer from back pain choose to seek help through pain medication. Types of main medications vary. Over the counter pain medications may be used to help temporarily quell the pain. For chronic back pain sufferers, or if someone has suffered an injury, a doctor may prescribe pain medications. 45% of those who have taken pain medications to relieve back pain were satisfied. Pain medications may make it easier to do every day activities, and may also be cheaper than seeking hands on treatment like physical therapy and chiropractic care.

Back pain can be a result of many things. Certain lifestyle choices can result in the alleviation of back pain. Patients who are obese or over weight are at a greater risk for developing, or already having back problems. In general, if a person is overweight, the muscles are more strained. This applies to the back muscles as well. If someone's back pain could be caused by their weight, losing weight could greatly relieve their pain. By losing weight, the strain to the back would be lessened. Yoga is a great way to stretch and strengthen the back, as well as work on losing weight.

Back pain can be solved in an assortment of ways. There are many positives to all of the popular choices mentioned above. In the end, it is up to the patient to make an informed decision about their care.


The professionals at Allegheny Medical Center, Pittsburgh, were a valuable resource in creating this article. These professionals include Dr. Krista Shiwarski, Coraopolis Physical Therapist, and Dr. Drew Fanelli, Carnegie PA Chiropractor .