1 in 6 Americans suffer from back pain.ย It’s the most common reason people visit their doctors, second only to colds and flu.ย Instead ofย taking time out of your day to ask your doctor about a five-figure spinal surgery, consider reflecting on your lifestyle โย why are you in pain?
Poor quality of sleep, old injuries, and poor posture might all be part of the list.ย Whether you have acute pain, which is the fleeting, temporary kind, or more persistent chronic aches, it’s important to realize you don’t always need to go in for the kill to tame the beast.
Sometimes you may be able to treat an underlying cause: actively seek help for depression; lose weight; change your diet; stop smoking.ย Not everything has to involve going under the knife.ย In fact, studies prove that it’s often more dangerous and less effective in the long run.ย According to a study of about 1500 participants, only a third were able to return to work within two years of having spinal fusion surgery.
Noninvasive treatments — regular massages, for example, or something as simple as icy-hot pads — can manage acute pain and keep it from becoming chronic, so long as there isn’t a bigger problem in the picture.ย Give it a shot.
Read the full article here: Do You Know What Your Back Pain Is Trying To Tell You?