Chronic Pain Vs. Acute Pain
Acute pain is a pain that happens quickly and is often felt as a sharp pain. Acute pain will usually go away within a matter of a few months if there is no underlying issue. Examples of acute pain are dental work, burns, cuts, bruises, labor and childbirth, broken bones and surgery.
Chronic pain is a pain that is ongoing and lasts longer than a six month period. This type of pain can continue after an illness or injury even after it is healed or has gone away. The pain signals continue to remain active in the nervous system and may do so for years.
Pain is a sign that something has happened, that something is wrong. Acute pain happens quickly and goes away when there is no cause, but chronic pain lasts longer than six months and can continue when the injury or illness has been treated. Others can suffer chronic pain even when there is not apparent injury or damage. Examples of chronic pain can include back pain, nerve pain, cancer, arthritis, headaches and Fibromyalgia.
The problem with chronic pain is that is can lessen one’s quality of life as it leaves some feeling depressed, having a low appetite, lacking their normal energy, experiencing tightness in their muscles and limiting their mobility. Addressing the root cause of chronic pain is essential in finding ways to resolve the issue or bring one more relief.
Back Pain Treatment Options
Trigger Point Injections– Trigger point injections use a combination of two local anesthetics called lidocaine and bupivacaine. They help to vasodilate the vessels of the muscle to allow for more blood flow which in turn provides the muscle with more oxygen and nutrients.
Chiropractic Care– Chiropractic care is a drug free and nonsurgical way to care for those with chronic pain. It is a method used to adjust joints as well as to provide deep tissue myofascial relief.
Non- Surgical Spinal Decompression– Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is an FDA cleared computerized treatment for treatment of the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine.
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy– Deep tissue laser therapy generates a photochemical response in damaged tissue that helps to stimulate healing on a cellular level by enabling cells to produce energy more rapidly.
5 Tips To Help When Dealing With Back Pain
- Improve Core Strength– Your core or abdominals are responsible for helping to support your back as well as your posture. From a fitness sense, everything originates from your core. If your core muscles are weak your back muscles will compensate placing strain on your back. You will also notice that you start having poor posture as tightness in the lower back muscles begins to pull you down. Abdominal exercise as well as focusing on engaging your core muscles while you are standing and sitting can help to correct problems associated with poor core strength.
- Focus On Posture– Incorrect posture while sitting for long periods can be a common cause of back issues, While standing or sitting you can focus on engaging your abdominal muscles as well as lifting up your chest while bringing your shoulders back to place you in the correct anatomical position. These simple movements will help you to build core strength and muscle memory so that you are less prone to poor posture.
- Sleep With A Pillow Between Your Knees– Sleeping with a pillow between your knees helps to align the spine while you sleep. A bed that supports your spine as well as a supportive pillow can also help.
- Find Shoes That Support Your Bodies Correct Alignment- What you wear on your feet matters. Everyone has different arches in their feet that should be supported based on their individual needs. Some shoe stores provide measurements to assess the right shoe for your feet.
- Stretch– Stretching is essential for one’s physical health and can even impact one’s mental health. Not only do our muscles become tight and knotted for various reasons but our joints are constantly enduring compression just from living everyday life. Stretching helps to loosen tight muscles and allows for space to develop between the joints so that they are not constantly compressed which can lead to various physical issues.
If you have been dealing with back pain it’s important that you have it looked into to make sure there is not a serious cause for the pain. Addressing your back pain can also help you find relief so you can live your best life. Whatever is causing your back pain, Pain Relief Partners in Vancouver, WA is here to help.
