Chronic back pain affects tens of millions of Americans on a regular basis, and it’s one of the most common conditions that we help treat. Because the spine is complex and pain is so individualized, figuring out the best way to treat the issue can be difficult. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the best things you can do to help reduce or eliminate your chronic back pain.

Tips For Treating Chronic Back Pain

There’s no perfect playbook for treating chronic back pain, but we’re confident that if you pursue a few of the below tips that you’ll have a good chance of making some headway.

Visit A Specialist – Now is not the time to turn to the internet or your general practitioner for answers about your back pain. It’s been going on for far too long, and now is the time to visit a chronic pain specialist like Dr. Cohn. A specialist will have a wealth of experience in all aspects of your chronic pain condition, and they’ll be better versed to provide you with an accurate diagnosis that will lead into a comprehensive treatment plan.

Adjust Your Diet – Eating an extra helping of vegetables won’t miraculously cure your back pain, but improving your dietary intake can help your back get the healthy vitamins and nutrients it needs to perform optimally. A healthy diet can also help you lose some weight, which will take some stress off your spine and can help to curb your symptoms. Diet adjustments can be a key part of reducing your chronic back pain.

Exercise – Exercise is one of the best and easiest things we can do for our spine health and our total body wellness. Regular exercise improves blood flow and strengthens key structures so that they are better able to handle the physical stress we put on our bodies. Combine exercise with the above point and you can shed some weight and take pressure off your spine. Strive to get 30-45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 4-5 times a week to help strengthen your spine.

Physical Therapy – Along a similar vein, physical therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed treatment techniques for a range of chronic back pain conditions. PT will specifically target underdeveloped muscle groups or work to stabilize key structures, so the benefits are directly tied to the affected area. You just need to make sure you are consistent about following through with your exercises.

Mental Health Improvements – Finally, as we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, a chronic pain condition is rarely just a physical issue. Being in constant pain for an extended period of time can do a lot of damage to your mental health, which is why treatment also needs to focus on your mental health. Your chronic pain specialist can help explain how stress, anxiety and the effects of your chronic pain condition are impacting your mental health, and they can work to develop an individualized care program for it. Do some things that challenge and exercise your mind each day just like you are for your physical health.

For more information, or for help with your chronic back pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.