If you are suffering from back pain, it is best to seek conservative treatment. Although the most common type of therapy recommended by physicians is a surgical procedure, more patients are discovering that conservative treatment can work just as well if not better than surgery. There is no reason to become discouraged if you have been told that conservative treatments such as hot and cold packs, exercises, and traction have been ineffective or that surgery may be necessary. Conservative treatments are becoming more popular due to the fact that they are generally less expensive and provide the same results as expensive medical procedures. If you are suffering from chronic back pain and are looking for a non-surgical treatment, it is important to understand the different options available before making your decision.
A consultation with your physician is the first step to getting started with conservative treatment. Your primary doctor is the best resource for information regarding back problems, and he/she will usually be able to recommend a physical therapist, osteopath, chiropractor, or physical therapist that specializes in back problems. Most of these professionals are trained in using conservative therapies and depending on your specific situation, they may suggest just the right therapy to address your specific issues. Some people find that going to one provider gives them the ability to get the care they need without having to spend a great deal of time searching for one.
The first step in conservative treatment is often a visit with your primary care physician or chiropractor. During your visit, the specialist will determine the cause of your low back pain, which will enable him/her to come up with the appropriate conservative treatment. He/She may suggest exercise as a means of treating your pain, or he/she might simply give you instructions on using a heating pad to ease the discomfort. Other times, your physical therapist will be able to give you information about using other therapeutic aids, such as heat wraps and hot baths. These can be very helpful in relieving some of the pain that you feel.
Once you have a diagnosis from your physician or chiropractor, you can decide on the conservative treatments that are best suited for your situation. Conservative treatments are generally recommended for moderate to severe cases of low back pain, and should not be taken as a "quick fix" by anyone who claims to have an instant cure for your back pain. Instead, they are a method for dealing with back pain that lasts for many months or even years. Of course, you will still need to see your doctor regularly to ensure that your conservative treatment is working, but at least you will know that the conservative treatment is not being done primarily for a "quick fix." Once your doctor has given you the all-clear on conservative treatments for low back pain, then you can move on to the more invasive methods of dealing with your back pain.
There are two types of invasive procedures that doctors will suggest for low back pain: passive techniques, and active techniques. For passive techniques, the goal is to find the underlying cause of the pain by carefully eliminating any physical cause for the pain. Passive treatments will often require the use of a splint or brace and will most likely take time for a full recovery. Active treatments are almost always done in conjunction with conservative treatments. When you combine conservative treatment with active treatment, you can treat your back pain more effectively and much faster than you could on your own.
Active treatments involve doing exercises to strengthen and build the muscles of the back, as well as using deep heat or cold therapy. The idea behind these treatments is to stimulate the nerves in your body and provide relief from pain. This type of conservative treatment will give you results more quickly than with passive methods, but it will take more time for you to reach your full potential pain-free. However, it is a highly effective method for relieving back pain, especially if conservative treatment is not enough to give you relief.
One of the key things that many people do not realize about pain management is that sometimes, it is all in your head. When you have acute, chronic, or recurrent low back pain, it is highly likely that something is not quite right. There are a number of reasons why your back may be giving you pain, including improper posture, a weak or tight back, or even nerve damage. If you have been trying to treat your low back pain with different methods without success, it is important to talk to your doctor about getting professional medical advice. If it turns out that there is an actual problem, such as nerve damage, surgery may be necessary.
Conservative treatments are often recommended for low back pain. However, they should not be the first option. For one thing, they may not be appropriate for your particular case, so you should only try them if other treatments have failed. It is important to remember that you should always seek medical attention if you are experiencing chronic, acute, or recurrent pain in your low back.
