When is back pain considered “severe?” Although answers may vary, anyone who has experienced intense back pain knows they want to eliminate it as fast as possible. Severe back pain treatment options are more accessible and less invasive than you might think.
Get the Facts About Severe Back Pain Treatment Options
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors use spinal manipulations called chiropractic adjustments to ensure proper spinal alignment. The body has the best chance of healing itself if the bones and joints in your muskuloskeletal structure are functioning properly and aligned correctly. Severe back pain is often the result of nerve irritation – often caused by an injury or trauma like falling or repetitive stress.
Chiropractic care is sometimes used in conjunction with traditional medical care when patients are in severe pain. A severe back pain treatment plan will most-likely involve chiropractic adjustments where an Overland Park chiropractor moves the joints with a controlled force. These chiropractic adjustments improve range of motion and mobility.
Ice or Heat
Icing the tender areas of your back can be helpful in reducing some of the inflammation. It’s best to use a cold compress for about 20 minutes at at time. Then give the area a chance to warm back up before icing again. You can use heat after a few days. Try a warm bath or shower. This can loosen tight muscles and help you to relax.
Rest
Reducing your activity for a few days can sometimes help with severe back pain. Lay on your back with a pillow under your knees or on the floor with your knees propped on a chair at 90 degrees.
Over the Counter Pain Medications
Over the counter pain relief can provide quick relief from severe back pain. Ibuprofen is often effective in providing temporary relief from muscle aches and pains. However, over the counter pain medications do not eliminate the cause of back pain caused by nerve compression or subluxations (misaligned discs). This severe back pain treatment option should only be used for temporary relief. Seek treatment from your doctor to determine what’s causing the pain.
The Overland Park chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic specialize in severe back pain treatment. Through chiropractic treatments, they have helped patients from around the Kansas City area to find lasting, permanent relief and are focused on preventing further injury.