Did you know back pain is one of the top 10 reasons for employees to take sick leave?
Researchers also revealed that every 4 out of 10 clerical workers have back pain.
The condition is so common that 50% of working individuals have painkiller medication within easy reach.
The easy availability of painkillers doesn’t mean that it is the best approach to treating back pain. If taken for a long time, NSAIDs and acetaminophen can cause serious side effects like ulcers, bleeding, and kidney or liver diseases. So throw away those painkillers right away and search for the complementary health approach of chiropractic care.
For drug free management of back or neck pain, you must consider booking an appointment with an upper back pain chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments are an alternative medicine approach with plenty of evidence to resolve the societal and emotional implications of back pain. Studies reaffirmed that alternative medicine and complementary therapies improve patient outcomes in conditions like back pain and neck pain. In today’s post, we will discuss the efficacy rates of various complementary therapies for back pain.
What is a complementary health approach?
Also known as alternative medicine or holistic health approaches, these healthcare practices are used alongside conventional medical care. It is important to discuss with a licensed healthcare professional, however, studies confirm the efficacy of these approaches in managing the symptoms of chronic pain, stress, anxiety and other health conditions.
In certain conditions, patients don’t even require medication to treat pain. There are several complementary health approaches and visiting a Tallahassee pain chiropractor is one of them. It is important to note that these approaches are not recommended as a substitute for conventional medical care, however, timely treatment and pain management can omit the requirement for toxic medication.
How to treat back pain without medication?
Consultation with a healthcare provider is necessary to determine whether the drug-free approach to treat your back pain is the correct approach or not. Nevertheless, below is a list of complementary health approaches that can help relieve back pain without the use of painkillers.
Chiropractic care:
Rather than taking toxic medications, consult Dr. Eric who is the best Chiropractor in They are highly experienced in manual manipulation of the spine to alleviate pain. Indeed your health and the underlying reason for pain can affect the efficacy rates, however, it is considered the safest approach to manage upper back pain.
Mild soreness at the manipulation site is the only known side effect, otherwise, there are multiple studies and analyses that found spinal manipulation to be effective in reducing pain and improving function.
Massage therapy:
If your back is hurting due to muscle tension, you can get in touch with Dr. Eric. He also offers massages along with spinal manipulation practice to promote relaxation and ease back pain.
The harmful effects of soft tissue massage appear to be low. However, when combined with chiropractic care, this alternative therapy has a slightly greater impact on pain and mobility functions.
Keep in mind that massage only provides short term improvement in pain and the symptoms can be addressed better if it is combined with spinal manipulation. In simple words, if you are looking for a drug-free approach then search “Chiropractor near me”to receive the safest and most effective treatment for upper back pain.
Acupuncture:
Healing can also be stimulated by inserting needles into specific points in the body. The technique is known as acupuncture and it is considered effective in the reduction of pain when tried as an initial treatment.
Although complications are rare in this therapy, the only limitation is the painful experience that most patients do not agree upon. A mild aching sensation is common when the needles reach a certain depth. Moreover, the first session of acupuncture is always painful and therefore patients with lower pain thresholds find it difficult to continue the treatment.
Yoga:
Stretching done with certain Yoga poses is particularly helpful in providing immediate relief from back pain. Studies show that Yoga has a greater effect on pain as well as body functions.
Although breathing techniques and physical postures are considered long-term treatment and the level of commitment it requires is yet another challenge for working individuals.
Apart from this, difficult Yoga poses can only be performed under the guidance of a qualified instructor because injuries can occur during the treatment.
Mindfulness:
If stress and tension are causing back pain then practicing meditation and mindfulness are relatively effective treatment choices. However, studies reveal that these practices are associated with short term improvement in pain intensity.
These interventions are usually safer, yet, relying only on these approaches to treat chronic back pain is not recommended. Depending on the pain intensity and the diagnosis, an experienced healthcare provider can determine a suitable treatment plan which may include mindfulness as an alternative therapy.
Which is the best alternative therapy for upper back pain?
There are plenty of studies conducted to determine the efficacy rates and safety of various complementary healthcare practices. Based on the analysis of the advantages and limitations of the above listed practices, it can be said that the best approach is chiropractic adjustment.
Although determining the efficiency of a treatment plan depends on various circumstances, still chiropractic adjustment can be considered the best suited treatment option because it is pain free, side effect free, drug free and it is the best substitute for conventional medical care for chronic upper back pain.
Keep in mind that delaying care can affect the efficacy rates of spinal manipulation techniques. For an effective drug free approach, it is best to consult the chiropractor in a timely manner.
You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric who has more than 15 years of experience. When patients search “top rated chiropractor near me” they get to know about Dr. Eric from the Pragle Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Clinic.