Bye Bye, Back Pain!
According to ConsumerReports.org, approximately 8 out of 10 U.S. adults experience back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 individuals who experienced back pain over the past year. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year. In addition, back pain was cited as a major cause for sleep disruption, difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, and interference with a normal sex life. Plus, the irritability and low grade chronic stress that comes from back pain can take its toll on your work life, home life and social life.
A healthy and pain free back is key in living a healthy and balanced lifestyle. If you or someone you care about struggles with back pain, here are some pharmaceutical and surgery free ways to achieve and maintain a healthy back.
“I suffered for 8 months with severe low back pain after giving birth to my 2nd son. I visited Essential Mind and Body expecting to be put on a 3-4 visit a week treatment plan and it taking weeks or months before I would experience any relief. Boy was I wrong! Within hours of my 1st treatment I began to feel immediate relief in my low back and after the 2nd treatment I was pain free! Thank you Dr. Koch you are amazing!” – Debra P.
Three Great Tips for a Pain Free Lower Back 1. Let your spine really rest while sleeping –Your spine works hard throughout the day and sleep helps nourish and restore your spine – and keep it healthy. Regular, uninterrupted sleep as well as sleeping comfortably goes a long way in healing and maintaining the health of your back. And while back pain can certainly interfere with getting a good night’s sleep, getting yourself as comfortable as possible is an important first step in restoring a healthy back. Some great investments in this area include an orthopedic mattress, a contouring neck pillow and a supportive body pillow to keep your body aligned while you sleep. Call to schedule a consult if you’re unsure about the right combination of mattress and pillows that might be right for you.
2. Enjoy the benefits of massage and acupuncture – The therapeutic power of massage improves flexibility, decreases tension and promotes circulation and cell regeneration – all of which goes a long way in the drug and surgery free approach to healing back pain.
Acupuncture is also proven to ease back pain and maintain a healthy back. In fact, the number one reported reason for seeking acupuncture is to alleviate back pain. The American Pain Society and American College of Physicians guidelines say that doctors should consider acupuncture as an alternative therapy for patients with chronic low-back pain that’s not helped by conventional treatment.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with acupuncture, acupuncture began in China more than 2,500 years ago and involves inserting very thin needles at certain points on the body. These points are connected by pathways (also known as meridians) which create a flow of energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”). Stimulating these points corrects the imbalance of qi and improves the overall flow of energy throughout the body. Restoring the flow of energy helps relieve pain and improve health.
Both massage and acupuncture provide excellent drug-free ways of achieving and maintaining a healthy back.
3. Be strong to the core – One of the most important ways to heal a painful back is by strengthening your core muscles. Especially since many of us sit at a desk most of the day, which can create or aggravate back pain, exercise in general – and core strength in particular – can be very beneficial. Performing abdominal and back exercises can strengthen and alleviate back pain when done properly. Call us today to discuss a core strengthening program that’s right for you.
As a Doctor of Chiropractic, I am passionate about spine health and I believe that everyone should be able to live free of back pain. At Essential Mind and Body, we provide the highest quality chiropractic care for our patients as well as massage, acupuncture, nutrition and emotional support. While each of these methods of care are effective in alleviating back pain, when combined the results can be outstanding.
Learn more about how Essential Mind and Body can help you live pain free on our website: www.essentialmb.com or call today for an appointment. And a big thank you to our existing patients for supporting our local, family owned business.
Yours in good health,
Dr. Robert Koch
