Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Back injuries are nothing if not complex, which can make treating your specific injury all that more difficult. Everyone with back pain wants to get better, but they don’t always know the best way to rid themselves of back pain, and this can lead them to pursue the wrong types of treatment. While all back injuries are different, we’ve found that most people will notice symptom decreases or complete pain relief if they pursue certain treatments over others. Below, we explain which back pain treatments you should substitute for other options.

Try These Remedies For Back Pain

Here’s a look at a number of different back pain treatment options that tend to be better for your spine than another common treatment.

1. Physical Therapy Instead Of Painkillers – Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications can help us feel better in the short-term, but they only really mask pain. Instead, if you want to achieve long-term relief, you need to pursue treatments that target the underlying cause of pain and work to strengthen and stabilize your spine. It’s very possible that inflammation could be the root cause of your pain, but you’ll notice better treatment results if you exercise and participate in a targeted physical therapy program instead of just sitting back and popping a pill.
2. Activity Over Rest – Similarly, while rest can help your back feel better shortly after an injury, studies have shown that long-term activity is not ideal for treating back problems. Rest is often great for the first 24-72 hours, but after that, you’ll notice a faster recovery if you gradually increase your activity levels. Movement and activity helps to pump healthy blood to the injured site, strengthen key muscle groups and improve stability in the area. While a specific diagnosis can give you a better idea of how to vary your rest and activity levels, know that long-term rest is rarely the best way to treat your back pain, and that leads us to our next point.
3. Get An In-Person Diagnosis Instead Of An Internet Search – The internet can provide us with a wealth of information at the press of a button, but that doesn’t mean everything you read is clinically accurate. If you misdiagnose your back pain, it’s possible that the treatments you find online will actually serve to make your problem worse. Instead, head to a doctor’s office and get an in-person diagnosis. A professional will be able to figure out exactly what’s wrong, and better yet, provide you with personalized care instructions for your specific issue.
4. Ignoring The Role Your Diet Plays In Back Pain Management – Finally, your diet and weight oftentimes play a significant role in your back pain as well as how to best treat it. A poor diet full of fats and carbohydrates can lead to increased spinal inflammation, which can act as a roadblock to successful treatment. Also, if your dietary choices have led to weight gain, that will mean your spine is handling even more stress with every step you take. Your weight and your food choices may not have fully contributed to your back pain, but they certainly may be a factor in its onset. Strive to make healthier food choices and manage your weight, and odds are your symptoms will start to improve.

If you swap in all of the above treatments instead of common passive options, we’re confident that you’ll notice success in your quest to put an end to your back pain. And for hands-on help in the Twin Cities area, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team today.

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