by Josh Komon

Created on: January 28, 2009

There are two broad areas of back pain: upper back pain, and lower back pain. Upper back pain hurts, but in many cases, is caused by stress, physical or otherwise, and is easily treatable, or at the very least, goes away after a couple of days. Lower back pain is almost always a more serious ailment. Lower back pain can be brought on by mundane things, hinders the body at its core, and can take months, or even years to fix, if the condition is indeed fixable.

The most mild cases of lower back pain are usually brought on by the same things that cause upper back pain: Stress, sleeping awkwardly, extended periods of poor posture, etc. In these cases, the treatment is usually pain pills (especially Ibuprofen, as it is good for swelling) heat and/or ice, rest, and maybe a nice massage. These cases go away in two to three days, and nothing more must be done.

In the more severe cases, which can range from constant discomfort to pain so great that the sufferer is unable to stand, are usually caused from deeper problems. Years of poor posture, serious injury, and genetics can all lead to these lower back problems. As every case is different, there is no one way to deal with these problems. However, there are many courses of action which can and should be looked into.

Chiropractors are a source of contention. Some claim they are miracle workers, while others claim that they provide nothing more than a quick fix. In my experience, I would lean more toward the former. The back is such a tricky area, and chiropractors deal exclusively with the back. If you can bring yourself to accept that a chiropractor is in fact a professional, then this is a route that should be tried.

When pain and discomfort reaches a certain level, it may be time to see your primary care physician. He or she will likely want to perform various tests, but will ultimately refer you to an orthopedist. The orthopedist will then determine what it is exactly that is causing the discomfort, and create a plan of action in which to relieve it. Many times, Physical Therapy will be the answer. Unfortunately, sometimes, surgery is necessary.

Physical Therapy can be grueling, and time-consuming. (Not to mention money-consuming depending on your health insurance plan.) But, Physical Therapy works. The people working with you will often seem like personal trainers, and to some degree they are. They also have some nifty machines to hook you up to, which can shock and/or massage the pain away. You will learn many stretches and strengthening exercises. Results come quickly with this course of action.

Surgery is of course the most drastic measure that can be undertaken. Extreme back pain sufferers can go under the knife for repair, removal, or in many cases, metal rods. Back surgery will change your life forever. It is not a death sentence, but surgery should be considered a last resort.

Back pain can come out of the blue. Try home remedies first, but do not hesitate to see your doctor. Professional advice is never a bad thing.

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