Back Pain Remedy Using Alternative Methods

Lower Back Muscle Pain – Alternative Treatments

In the United States, back pain is second only to headaches when it comes to common painful conditions that people suffer. The pain ranges from mild to severe, so severe in fact that it would be excruciating for an individual to walk or even stand.

Fortunately, back pain remedy is at hand. In fact, there are several remedies and treatment options available designed to help affected individuals cope with pain management issues.

Below are some back pain remedy options and self-care help that will help speed up recovery and reduce any future recurrences:

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy breaks down scar tissue and releases muscles from spasms. It is becoming increasingly more recognized as a form of medical treatment; a study by the American Massage Therapy Association found that 54% of healthcare providers encourage massage therapy, along with other types of therapy for back pain.

Studies have shown that massage therapy is more effective than both chiropractic and acupuncture for relieving pain due to muscle spasms. The benefits of massage therapy include improved circulation, which helps alleviate muscle soreness; muscle relaxation, which helps muscles move without pain; and increased endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers.

If muscle spasms do not relax with massage therapy, that means inflammation is likely present and cannot be treated with massage. So if you know your back pain is due to inflammation, it won’t help to seek out massage therapy.

You should be aware that the kind of massage you receive in a spa is not the same kind of massage used to treat back pain. Swedish massage is the most common type of massage found in spas and similar places that offer massages, and while it feels good, it is too superficial to reach deep tissue and muscles and have any lasting affect on back pain.

The kind of massage used to treat back pain is called Neuromuscular therapy (NMT), or trigger point myotherapy. This type of massage works to relieve pain by balancing the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. NMT incorporates special massage therapy techniques, myofacial release, and stretching to relive both acute and chronic patterns of pain.

There are many massage training schools throughout the United State. Along with massage, neuromuscular therapists study neurological laws governing pain, the roles of soft tissue in pain, and palpation, as well as anatomy, physiology, and the function of the spine.

In order to practice, massage therapists must be licensed and you should make sure that when looking for a massage therapist, you choose one that has had training in neuromuscular therapy. To find a massage therapist, get a referral from your doctor or contact the American Massage Therapist Association.

A neuromuscular therapist will ask you for all of the information that other therapists do and examine your spine to determine where exactly the pain is and what’s causing it. She will determine where nerves are compressed and where they are trapped within soft tissue.

The therapist will work to relieve your back pain with her hands, fingers, elbows, and pressure bars, which are used to reach deeper into spinal muscles and tendons. She will use some kind of lubrication and start first on superficial tissue before moving deeper.

This should not hurt, but you will feel pressure, and you may be sore afterwards due to the muscles releasing lactic acid. The therapist will also palpate trigger points, elevated neurological areas deep within the muscles.

This may hurt initially, but the pain should go away quickly as the therapist continues to work. Back pain should respond to massage within four treatments over six weeks. If not, massage is clearly not the best treatment.

Water Therapy

Several types of water therapies exist and can be broken down into two very different groups: water exercise therapy and hydrotherapy. Water exercise therapy should be done only by a qualified physical therapist, while hydrotherapy may be done by a therapist but can also be done at home to relieve backaches.

Water exercise therapy has many benefits. The buoyancy of water supports the patient’s weight, allowing a greater range of motion when the person has too much pain to exercise on land.

This makes water exercise therapy ideal for everyone who seeks relieve from back pain. Additionally, the water temperature should be warm enough to relax muscles, which also helps relieve pain.

A physical therapist will have you do in the pool the same exercises you would do on land; they will just be easier to do. Some people transition to land exercises when their back allows it, some continue treatment in the water because they prefer it, and some incorporate both land and water exercises into the therapy.

Hydrotherapy for back pain relieves pain by loosening the muscles and ridding the body of toxins that produce pain and inflammation. Studies have shown that people who soak in a hot tub or warm bath have less stiffness, more flexibility, and tend to use less pain medication.

Hydrotherapy consists of douches, sauna or steam baths, wraps, and hot baths with or without herbal additives. It has been used for centuries and is most popular in Europe. Many spas now offer various hydrotherapy treatments.

The only risks involved are to people who are temperature sensitive and to those who have diabetes. You must be careful, though, not to get overheated.

To douche your back, use a hose hooked up to your bathtub faucet. Direct the stream of warm water over the painful area and toward the heart. The water should not splash, but rather wash gently over the skin. Do this for ten to fifteen.

Saunas and steam baths help relieve mild back pain because they stimulate the flow of blood, which relieves the pain of pulled muscles. You should not use a sauna if pregnant and never stay in longer than fifteen to twenty minutes.

To keep from getting over heated, wipe your face frequently with a cold cloth. Drink plenty of water to keep from becoming dehydrated.

Warm baths are excellent for relieving mild backaches. Fill the tub with about 6 inches of tepid water and get in. Gradually add hot water until the water level in the tub reaches your naval.

The final temperature should be no hotter than 104 degrees. Anything higher can induce a mock fever. Soak for fifteen to thirty minutes, and when you get out, wrap up warmly and go to bed.

For even more benefit, you can add ½ cup of Epsom salts to the water to help draw toxins from the body. Essential oils can also be added to the bath. Some good ones for alleviating back pain are lavender, marjoram, rosemary, clary sage, black pepper, ginger, and birch.

First mix two or three drops of the essential oil with two tablespoons of a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, peanut, olive, grape seed, or walnut oil, and then pour the mixture under running water.

The mixture can also be massaged directly into the skin. To get a similar effect, tie ½ cup of herbs in cheesecloth and hang under the faucet so the water runs through the bag.

Some good herbs for alleviating back pain are birch, German chamomile, white fir, wintergreen, and lavender. Using herbs and essential oils for healing is called aromatherapy; it promotes self-healing by indirectly stimulating the immune system.

Sometimes a physical therapist may do a heat wrap for your back pain, or you can also do one yourself at home. Moisten a cloth with warm water, wring it out, and wrap it snugly around the painful area of your back. Then wrap up in a dry cloth and next a blanket. Relax for 45-60 minutes. Herbs or hot mud may be added to the water for added benefit.

Capsaicin Cream

An active ingredient in chili peppers, capsaicin cream when applied to the skin provides an analgesic effect as it reduces the substance P, a neurochemical that transmits pain. You may remember that analgesic is one of the many back pain remedies. A typical dosage is only about 0.025% four times a day. If possible, wear gloves when rubbing it to any part of your body.

Vitamin D

Found in fish with small bones, vitamin can also be obtained from fortified milk, cereal grains and sunlight exposure. However, it has its own risks such as darker pigmented skin and digestive disorders.

The utilization of glucocorticoid medications can be helpful for conditions like lung diseases and allergy irritations. For those who are advanced in years, there should just be minimal sunlight contact.

Music Therapy

Truly one of the low cost back pain remedies, music therapy is not that soothing to the ears but it takes away depression and anxiety caused by sciatica. It has an immediate effect in the reducing the sore although, the aftermaths were not that astounding.

Willow Bark

The part of a salix alba tree has been discovered to have properties that can relieve aches. The ingredient called salicin, found in a willow bark, is transformed inside the body to salicylic acid- believed to be the active compound that eases pain and inflammation.

Bowen Rehabilitation

A type of gentle bodywork, Bowen rehabilitation has been developed by an Australian osteopath, Tom Bowen. This is one of the back pain remedies that has been widely recognized in Europe and has been gaining popularity in North America.

Specialists use a series of moves by their fingers and thumbs. It typically involves the specialist pulling the skin loosed apart from the muscle by putting in pressure and immediately releasing the tension.

Alexander Technique

Teaching people to improve their posture and eliminate bad habits, the Alexander technique stresses the importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle. It was created by an Australian actor, Frederick Matthias Alexander. He learned how to correct croakiness in his voice by not slouching and just standing tall.