Back pain is not something which can be taken lightly. It affects your everyday routine and can lead to disability if not taken care of by a Melbourne chiropractor. Luckily, prevention is possible. However, few exercises at home can heal the back pain in a few weeks.

Symptoms

Symptoms of back pain include:

• Muscle ache
• Pain like shooting or stabbing and diverging down your leg
• Increase in pain while bending, lifting, standing, walking

If you do not see any improvement in back pain with home remedies and rest in a few weeks then see your doctor.

Causes

• Bulging or fractured disks. Disks are the buffers between bones. A nerve can be pressed if the soft material of disks become fractured. However, this can happen without back pain.
• Muscle or ligament strain. This can happen due to an awkward moment or imitated heavy lifting.
• Arthritis. It can affect your lower back. It can also lead to a medical condition called spinal stenosis.
• Osteoporosis. Porous and brittle bones can lead to compression fractures in bones.
• Skeletal irregularities. This normally occurs in mid-age. In this situation, the spine bends to one side and causes back pain.

Treatment

Each person has different physical conditions. On some people, home treatment works great but in some people, it does not improve for a long time. Doctors recommend different treatment as per the condition. Sometimes even seeing a chiropractor can help.

Medication

These can be included:

1. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers

NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can relieve back pain. But, these should be consumed as per the doctor’s direction.

2. Muscle relaxant

These are recommended when OTC fails to relieve low to mild back pain.

3. Topical pain relievers

Cream, salves or ointment to use on the skin over the area of the pain.

4. Narcotics

These are drug containing opioids and taken under doctor’s strict supervision and only for short time. Opioids like oxycodone or hydrocodone are not good for chronic pain and normally given for less than a week.

5. Antidepressant

These medicines are given in very small doses and are useful in chronic back pain.

6. Injections

When medicines fail to provide relieve, cortisone (anti-inflammatory medication) may be used. This is injected around the spinal cord and relieve can be last for a few months.

Physical therapy and exercise

Heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and muscle release techniques can be used by a Network Chiropractor Fitzroy. You can learn these techniques to improve your flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. Back pain can be stopped from returning by regular use of these techniques.

Surgery

Surgery can be an option for back pain at time depending on the severity of the condition. It usually helps people with radiating leg pain or nerve compression causes muscle weakness. However, surgery is normally performed to correct structural problems. These can be included narrowing of the spine or herniated disk.