Many patients have reported that alternative treatments have helped relieve their back pain. One type of alternative treatment is acupuncture of acupressure.
These methods were developed in China, where practitioners believe that you have an energy force called your Chi. They believe that when this force is blocked, you can develop physical illness, such as back pain.
In order to free up your body's Chi channels and restore a healthy, energetic flow, acupuncture and acupressure are used.
Acupuncture uses very fine needles that are inserted into precise points in your body's meridians. The points of the meridians are determined by your symptoms.
The needles, which contain no medication, are left in for 20-40 minutes. Research has shown that the presence of the needles causes your body to release certain neurochemicals, such as endorphins, and they help in the healing process.
Acupressure works along the same principles as acupuncture, except practitioners use their thumbs, fingers, and elbows to target the specific Chi points.
Another form of alternative treatments is herbal remedies. Be careful when using herbal remedies, and do your research and talk to your doctor beforehand as there may be side effects that you're unaware of.
Some common herbal remedies are Capsaicin Cream, Devil's Claw, and White Willow Bark. Capsaicin is what makes chili peppers hot, and it can also relieve your pain.
Since it only temporarily reduces your pain, you will need to re-apply it about 4-5 times a day. It may take several weeks for you to feel significant relief from capsaicin cream, so just because it doesn't work right away, don't give up.
Devil's Claw comes from southern Africa, where it has been used for centuries to treat fever, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems. It is an anti-inflammatory, and is used for conditions that cause inflammation and pain, like osteoarthritis.
White Willow Bark led to the development of aspirin in Europe. It is used for conditions that cause pain or inflammation, like osteoarthritis, and can provide relief for acute back pain.
Another alternative method for relieving back pain is massage therapy. Many cases of back pain are caused by muscle strain and overuse, and a massage can help release muscle tension and relieve muscle inflammation and pain.
There are also many traditional treatments options for your back pain. Spinal manipulation treatment is performed by chiropractors, who may use a combination of spinal manipulation, manual techniques, and therapy instruments.
Common types of spinal manipulation are Specific Spinal Manipulation, the Flexion-Distraction Technique, and the Instrument-Assisted Manipulation. Specific Spinal Manipulation is sometimes referred to as spinal adjusting.
For this treatment, a chiropractor identifies the joints that are restricted or show abnormal motion, and return motion to the joint with a gentle thrusting technique. This is an active, hands-on care that returns motion to the spine and allows for normal spinal mechanics, relaxed muscles and relieved pain.
The flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation. This treatment is still hands-on, utilizing a specialized table to assist the chiropractor, and is especially useful in treating bulging discs and ruptured discs.
Instrument-assisted manipulation is another non-thrusting technique that is especially appropriate in older patients with degenerative joint syndrome. The chiropractor uses a hand-held instrument to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
There are also various manual therapies that can be used to treat your back pain. These are used to treat soft tissue injuries on ligaments and muscles.
Trigger Point Therapy is where a chiropractor identifies specific hypertonic, painful points on a muscle. They then apply direct pressure on these points, using their fingers, to relieve the tension.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy is when a chiropractor uses instruments to diagnose and treat areas of dysfunction in the muscles. They will perform repeated strokes of the instrument over the area(s) of restriction.
Research has shown that instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy increases the number of fibroblasts in the area. Fibroblasts are special cells that help heal injuries, including muscle injuries.
Author Resource:-
Ronald Pedactor has been involved with medicine for over 20 years. He specializes in spinal recovery medicine and recommends this Salt Lake back pain specialist for all your back needs.
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