World Spine Day is celebrated every year on 16 October. The day aims to raise awareness about spine health and take necessary steps that can help in keeping the spine healthy. chronic back pain Has become a major health issue. Persistent back pain can be caused by a number of factors, including poor posture, muscle strain, and arthritis, among others.

Chronic back pain can also affect your daily activities and reduce your quality of life. Read further, Dr. Ashish Dagar, Consultant, Spine Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Gurugram and Dr. Ashish Tomar, Senior Consultant, Orthopedics and Spine Surgery, Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector-8, Faridabad, discuss the causes of chronic back pain along with treatment options. and make lifestyle modifications to manage the condition.

Causes of lower back pain

Here, take a look at some common causes of lower back pain.

• Age-related spinal arthritis: Gradual wear and tear of the spine’s joints, including the disc and facet joints, can lead to chronic back pain.
• Degenerated disc disease: Affects young adults. The discs degenerate and lose their physical function resulting in mild to moderate but excruciating lower back pain.
• Spinal stenosis: Facet joint hypertrophy and disc bulge can cause stenosis of the central spinal canal, leading to compression of the nerves.
• Spondylolysis: Affects young and middle-aged adults. The hook between two bones (vertebrae) of the spine breaks, causing severe back pain.
• Disc herniation or bulge can also be a cause of chronic low back pain.
• Myofascial pain syndrome: muscle and fascia pain of unknown etiology.

Lifestyle Changes to Manage Chronic Back Pain

Here, take a look at some lifestyle changes one can adopt to get relief from lower back pain.

exercise and posture

Maintaining proper posture during regular exercise and daily activities is important to prevent and manage pain. Exercises such as low-impact aerobic exercise, isometric core strengthening/stabilization, supervised strength training, balance-improving exercises, and aquatic exercise have positive effects on low back pain.

weight management

Losing body weight can help reduce excess pressure on the spine.

self care

Self-care and self-management strategies, such as ergonomic instructions, proper body mechanics, joint protection and energy conservation guidelines, self-massage, self-acupressure, flare-up management and pain neuroscience education, to help patients manage There may be useful techniques. His back pain. Workplaces should be adjusted to properly support the back, especially for people sitting for long periods of time.

nutrition

Healthy eating habits play an important role in managing back pain. It can help in reducing weight which can be one of the factors contributing to stress on the spine. Recent studies suggest that certain diets are highly inflammatory, particularly diets high in trans fats, refined sugars, and processed foods. Avoiding such items can be beneficial in chronic back pain.

sleep and stress

Anxiety, stress, insomnia and chronic low back pain are interconnected because they all increase pain perception. Maintain sleep hygiene (dark, quiet, cool room with supportive pillows) and achieve 8 hours of sleep daily.

Treatment Options to Manage Chronic Back Pain

Here, take a look at some treatment options that one can adopt to manage lower back pain.

medicines

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or nerve pain medications may be prescribed, depending on the cause of the pain.

physical therapy

Regular sessions focusing on stretching, strengthening and posture correction can reduce pain and prevent recurrence.

injection

Epidural steroid injections or nerve blocks may provide temporary relief for severe pain.

surgery

In cases where conservative treatments fail, surgery such as laminectomy or spinal fusion may be recommended.

alternative treatments

Acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other non-surgical spine treatments can make a difference in chronic back pain.

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