23 Jun Tips for Preventing Back Pain From Becoming Chronic Pain in Elmhurst, NY
Anyone who has experienced acute low back pain caused by everyday activities or other reasons knows that an injury can cause intense pain. It is important to find pain relief so that you can continue with your normal activities. However, while many people can relieve pain after a short time, others may end up dealing with chronic back pain.
We use our back muscles for just about every movement that we complete throughout the day, so it is essential that any kind of back pain is relieved. When you have pain, chronic or acute, the relief cannot come soon enough. Whether you have risk factors that make chronic back pain more likely or you are noticing that the pain persists even with preventive measures, chronic pain can be debilitating.
At New York Spine Specialist, our team is highly trained and experienced with various chronic and acute pain types. We will examine your back as well as your spinal cord to ensure that you do not have a condition such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or arthritis that may be causing your chronic back pain, and we will develop a clear treatment plan that is customized to meet your needs.
Contact us today if you are experiencing chronic low back pain so we can help you find relief from your body’s pain signals and get you on the road to recovery.
Acute Back Pain vs. Chronic Back Pain
The first concept that should be discussed is the difference between acute and chronic pain. When you are experiencing acute back pain, it is a short-term issue that can last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. It is difficult to determine the exact cause of acute pain, but it can result from ligament strains, broken bones, herniated discs, or muscle strains. Usually, it will dissipate over time as long as the right treatments are used.
On the other hand, chronic back pain is present for long periods and is often the result of acute pain that was not taken care of properly. Chronic pain persists and interrupts your daily life to the point that it may seem impossible to complete regular tasks without experiencing severe discomfort.
Ways to Prevent Making Back Pain Worse
When experiencing back pain, you must undergo the proper medical treatment to prevent it from becoming chronic. However, there is more to it than simply taking pain medications to block pain signals. Here are some tremendous nonsurgical treatments to help you prevent acute pain from turning into chronic back pain:
Physical Therapy
When you seek treatment from a physical therapist, you will be able to reap the benefits of strengthening exercises and stretching. Your therapist will provide the best exercise program to improve circulation, reduce inflammation and muscle tension, gain flexibility and range of motion, and strengthen your abdominal muscles. The stronger your stomach muscles, the easier it will be to support yourself without injuring your back.
Controlling Inflammation
Reducing and controlling inflammation is important because that can lead to chronic back pain. You can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and use a heat and ice regimen to reduce any swelling in your back.
Getting Enough Rest
In our society, everyone is constantly in “go” mode. Although you likely have a million things you need to get done for work and home life, you must listen to your body telling you that it needs to rest. Light activity is ok since a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to chronic back pain, but do not overdo it with heavy lifting or strenuous exercises.
Staying Active
Maintaining an active lifestyle will ensure that you keep a healthy weight and do not put stress on your bones, muscles, and ligaments. Individuals with back conditions such as nerve compression, degenerative disk disease, spinal deformity, or neurological disorders can still find ways to remain active.
Maintain Good Posture
Many people have started to have a terrible habit of hunching over for long periods throughout the day. This is primarily due to using smartphones and laptops daily. To prevent long-term back pain, remain mindful of your posture and stretch out your spinal cord whenever possible.
Consult With an Expert in Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
If you have been dealing with chronic severe back pain for more than a few weeks, you may need to consult with an expert in the field of musculoskeletal conditions such as ours at New York Spine Specialist. If the at-home, self-care pain relief tips are not helping you find the comfort you need, something more serious may occur in your spine that can only be diagnosed through bone scans.
Contact New York Spine Specialist for Chronic Back Pain
Have you been dealing with back pain for a long time and cannot find any relief, no matter what you try? There may be a severe spinal concern that needs to be examined by a spine professional.
At New York Spine Specialist, we understand how difficult it can be to deal with chronic back pain and how devastating it can be to your overall health and well-being. Our spinal experts are here to help you figure out the underlying cause of your chronic back pain and the best ways to treat it. We accept most health plans, including workers’ compensation and no-fault insurance. When you book an appointment with our spine specialists, we will examine your situation and develop a customized treatment plan. We will ensure that you are comfortable with all the planned treatments, and you can rest assured that we will always start with the most conservative, non-invasive options first. Contact us today to schedule your appointment at New York Spine Specialist!