SolveYourProblem eLearning Series:
Relieve My Back Pain NOW!
( 23 pages )

Back Pain Treatments: A Quick Overview

The main relief treatment for chronic lower back pain is conservative intervention. In other words, jumping into surgery is not advised because many people suffer no back pain yet have degenerative changes or aging issues going on in the back region. Other treatment options may offer relief instead. According to studies, there is no evidence that points to delayed surgery resulting in increased complications. In fact, approximately 80 percent of the cases where surgery was indicated as a solution recovered regardless of the surgery. So whether or not they had it made no difference. Really under 40 percent are reported to have benefited from surgery. And on the contrary, those people with surgical pasts reported the need for future surgeries, many because their pain actually increased with surgery. So good medical history, physical examination preparation and assessment can go a long way in determining treatment options.

Conservative treatment includes an overall physical and psychological pain-handling program incorporated into the patient’s lifestyle. It offers education and other training about symptom management, movement and posture strategies, physical therapy, acupuncture, epidural analgesics, pain medication and other associated issues.

Natural Supplement Treatments

There are a number of different ways you can treat your back pain naturally: vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrition, and homeopathy medicine. Some will help heal your back pain and others are dangerous, so it’s best to consult with a physician or nurse practitioner before taking anything and never, ever exceed recommended dosages. The FDA has no control over natural supplements, so it does not recommend them. Since supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

That doesn’t mean, though, that all supplements are bad. Some medications turn out to be unsafe, too, despite rigorous trials and testing. The bottom line is to research every product you consider taking and make sure you get supplements from a reputable source, like a health food store. Everybody’s chemistry is different and reacts differently, so if you are considering taking a supplement equivalent to a pharmaceutical, you may still have some side effects.

There are many natural supplements that can be found in supermarkets and drug stores. You may have to check health food stores for more obscure supplements. Like any kind of medication that you buy over the counter, you’ll have a choice between the store brand and name brands. Store brands are perfectly safe to use and are less expensive because you don’t have to pay for advertising. You can also buy supplements over the internet, but you should be sure you buy from a reputable source so you know exactly what you are getting. Do some research and ask around to find out which online suppliers are the best and most reputable.

Listed below are some natural supplement treatments that have been publicized to help alleviate back pain. When dosages are listed, you should know that if you are particularly thin or heavy, you should consult an expert before taking the supplement. And remember, natural supplements will not relieve pain immediately, but have to be taken for weeks or sometimes even months before you see results.

Vitamins and Minerals

• VITAMIN E-400 IU daily; anti-inflammatory
• VITAMIN C-250-500mg twice daily
• ZINC-30 mg twice daily; anti-inflammatory
• CALCIUM-600mg daily; strengthens bones
• BORON: 1-3 mg daily with food; helps the body absorb calcium and magnesium
• MAGNESIUM- 250 mg daily; strengthens bones and relaxes muscles
• COPPER: 2 mg daily
• GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE: 500 mg. three times daily. Can rebuild cartilage in joints and has been studied by the American College of Rheumatology as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
• NIACINAMIDE: 500 mg three times daily; anti-inflammatory and heals damaged cartilage. Can cause liver damage and aggravate diabetes, low blood pressure, ulcers, and glaucoma, so have a doctor monitor you if you take this supplement.
  
  

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