Your doctor will diagnose your back pain as a chronic pain condition if your symptoms persist for three or more months. Chronic pain can be disabling and debilitating, and it can cause other health problems such as fatigue, depression, and pain in other areas. Surgery is a daunting and expensive prospect even if you have excellent insurance, so doctors and patients try to avoid it unless the case is an emergency and opt for less invasive treatments first.

Physical Therapy

The most effective back pain treatment Orange Park FL is physical therapy. Sessions can be done from home or at a therapy clinic and can be long-term or short-term therapy plans depending on the nature and cause of the pain. Therapy seeks to target and correct common causes of back pain such as poor posture, weak core muscles, lack of muscle flexibility. 

Meditation

It sounds new-age, but meditation as a treatment for pain has a basis in science and dates back hundreds of years. It calms the mind to ease stress. Stress causes muscle and joint tension, which leads to pain that can become chronic. Releasing stress eases this tension which relieves pain. Meditation also improves mental health, which is a major contributor to chronic pain. 

Medication

Nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections are often used both as a pain treatment and a way to rule out causes of pain if the treatments are ineffective. Oral medications such as analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants are also used in combination with other corrective treatments.  Opioids are only prescribed if the pain is debilitating and all other available treatment options have failed. Pharmacuetical drugs are not the only form of medications commonly use for pain though. Cannabis products have been growing in popularity recently and have been known to help with chronic pain as well as having other benefits. There are lots of options for consumption including a Delta 8 pre roll pack, edibles, or tinctures.

Lifestyle Changes

Lack of exercise is a common cause of certain pain conditions. Poor diets lacking in essential nutrients or that are high in added sugar are leading causes of dozens of health problems, including pain.  Correcting these things can lead to decreased pain and overall life improvement.

Weight Loss

People who are overweight are at higher risk for joint and back pain.  They also face higher risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic fatigue, and high cholesterol, all of which contribute to and worsen chronic pain conditions. Your doctor may refer you to a dietician who can help you find a sustainable meal plan and exercise regimen to help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

You and your doctor can discuss treatment options together and, if possible, keep you out of surgery.