Many people are looking for a back pain cure all. Unfortunately there is not one fix fit all when it comes to back pain. The main reason for this is due to the fact that there are many different reasons for back pain.

One thing that has been agreed to my most physicians is that part of any back pain cure will have to include the psychological ingredient. Your mind and positive thinking will play a major role in any cure of any condition you may have. This will include your back pain. Positive thinking is a powerful tool in the medical field. There are unexplained cures and healing that is medically unexplainable except for the old saying “its mind over matter”.

For some patients, it is thought that if they had treated their back injury with surgery, they would be cured. While this is true in some cases, it does not work in all. Back pain or spinal problems are not an ailment that can be just cut out or removed. Back surgery is very specific and delicate operation. Even in the hands of the best surgeon, things can go wrong.

A person with a spinal problem usually has more than just one problem. The spinal or back problem is just the focal point. But the more problems you have, the more difficult a cure is to find. This problem of cascading deterioration of your condition is common. There was a report in the medical journal “Pain” written in part by Von Korff that survey people with chronic back pain. I was found that 9 out of 10 people with chronic back pain had at least on other problem, most had more. The report listed the conditions as another chronic pain, a chronic physical aliment, a mental disorder and or had a substance abuse problem. Do you fall into this classification?

Some new thought to treating the whole person instead of just one specific problem is an approach that is gaining speed in the medical community. With all the new discoveries and treatments, many patients are now becoming confused with all of their options. If you are one of these people, tell your doctor. Sometimes too much information can be as damaging as not enough. If you become confused with all the choices then may be time to ask your doctor to just skim over the info without details. Just get to what is the possibility of a cure and decide on that.

Since you are the patient decide on what is important to you. Approach the problem with the attitude that you will be cured. Think in a way that “there is a solution for me” can go a long way in you being pain free.

Other factors that might be involved with your back pain are social factors. If a person without any higher education has to make a decision that involves a very complicated set of procedures then they may feel over whelmed. This can lead to depression and a worsening of their condition.

There is no cure all back pain cure. But if you have back pain, start with positive thinking.

There is usually a very clear cause for your upper back pain. Treatment options are available from many sources. The most suggested source from a physician is the use of an over the counter anti-inflammation drug. Tylenol is the most recommended of this type of drug but also available are aspirin and ibuprofen. This class of drugs not only reduces the swelling of inflamed soft tissues but also delivers a mild pain reliever to aid some of your discomfort.

Another common upper back pain treatment is a muscle massage. When your muscles are over used or just used in a repetitive motion for too long of period, soreness and pain can be felt. By massaging your tired muscles, you will improve the circulation to these areas. This will not only reduce the pain but reduce the swelling.

A variation to a muscle massage that you can employ is acupressure. This uses the same principles of acupuncture without the invasiveness of a needle being inserted into your body. A practitioner of this art uses their thumbs, elbows, feet, blunt instruments and fingers to apply pressure to certain parts of the body. These specific parts are called the Chi points. For upper back pain there are 5 recommended points were pressure should be applied.

The first is on top of the shoulders midway between the neck and the outer edge of the shoulder. The second is approximately at the same level as your elbows on the center of your back. The exact placement is 2 thumb widths off center of your spin on both sides. The third is on the upper back of the shoulders close to the first one but on the back side of the muscle. The fourth is on the back side of your knees. This might not make sense but the blood flow from your legs go directly to your brain. By applying pressure to where there is a crease on the back side of your knees, you have found the correct spot. The last place is on the outer side of your ankles, behind the ankle bone.

To properly use acupressure, your surroundings must set the proper mood. A quite isolated place is preferred. Once you have the proper surroundings you must relax. Things that should be avoided are loud music, alcohol, any food, drug both legal and illegal and exercise. Relaxation is the key. Without this you will not be able to achieve the maximum affect of the treatment.

When you are ready apply pressure to one of the pressure points. Hold the pressure there for 15 to 20 seconds. If relief is not felt make a slight adjustment to the location until you found your exact Chi point.

The reasons acupressure will work as your upper back pain treatment is because your circulation will improve. With better blood circulation most of the aches and pains will cease. With the pressure applied in the proper places, your body will also release endorphins which are the way your body naturally kills pain. This upper back pain treatment should only be applied to yourself. Most states do not allow acupressure to be applied by unlicensed practitioners.

The correct lower back pain treatment will be determined by the specific nature of your lower back pain. In general the better you are informed about your back pain, the better you are able to deal with the pain and discomfort it may cause you. In most cases unless you have a degenerative illness that has caused your back pain or a traumatic event like an automobile accident, your lower back pain will gradually go away within a couple of weeks if the proper treatment schedule is followed.

For a great majority of you that are experiencing lower back pain, treatment is helped by you staying active. By keeping your blood flowing, your body will repair itself for the most part. If necessary take a mild pain reliever like aspirin or Tylenol to help you cope with the pain and discomfort.

Understanding your back pain also helps in properly managing it. If you are to consult with a physician, make sure you ask a lot of questions. Some of them might be what should my activity level be? How often should I take a pain relieve? What are the right exercises?

For those of you that have had lower back pain for more than 2 months, then a more aggressive lower back pain treatment plan may be in order. Strength training might be necessary as well as an increase in activity level. Make sure the length of time you have been in pain is due to the damage of your back and not you just being lazy. Most persistent lower back pain is from people sitting around hoping it would just go away. If you are watching hours of TV a day, then turn it off and go for a walk. Laziness is the biggest contributor to long periods of lower back pain. Lower back pain treatment to be effective must be implemented.

One thing everyone who has or had lower back pain should be aware of is that it could return. Preventative measure should be taken to avoid this possibility. Sitting, standing and walking with the proper posture is necessary to help ward off the return of your lower back pain. Treatments can be used as preventive measures, like the exercises to strengthen the stomach muscles.

One of the fastest ways for your lower back pain to return is to over indulge during meals. This will allow your stomach muscles to relax which means your back will have reduced support. This support to your lower back will always be necessary to ward off the pain and discomfort from your lower back muscles being overworked and becoming inflamed.

When lifting, remember the proper technique to do so that will not place any undue stress on your back. Lift with your legs and never your back. Keeping your back straight at all times and never twisting at the waist when you are carrying a heavy load.

It will take all of the suggestions and precautions stated to ward off the return of your lower back pain. Treatment is only effective if implemented properly and on a regular basis.

While most back pain originates from the over use of back muscles, a stained back muscle or improver use of a back muscle, these are not the usual source of chronic back pain. Treatment is very different for this long term pain.  Your treatment will be different because the source of your pain is very different.

Most chronic back pain is from a systemic or rheumatic illness. The exact spot of the pain from these are hard to pin point because of the nature of it. Most of the time, your pain will begin to radiate out from the source. It will feel like it covers your entire back. The point of pain will not grow just what you feel will.

Other causes for chronic back pain are spinal osteoarthritis, spondylitis and compression fractures of vertebras. All of these need to be properly diagnosis by a qualified physician.

Proper diagnosis is required for the proper treatment to be decided on. A thorough examination will be required and possibly during this you will receive a shot of steroids or anesthetic into the soft tissue. This will help pin point the exact source or cause of your pain.  Other procedures you should be prepared for are the use of the different imaging machines like x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI and computerized tomography or a CAT scan.

Once the chronic back pain has been properly diagnosis, the treatment for the pain can commence. Like most back pain treatment, over the counter pain relievers is usually the first step. If this path is chosen for long term relief the warnings must be adhered to. Switch from one to another in an alternating fashion. Each one has its own dangers if too much is taken like Tylenol, it causes liver damage. If a stronger pain killer is recommended there is always a chance of addiction. If at all possible, this should be avoided. Trying to kick the habit of pain medication is very difficult and for some not possible.

Your chronic back pain treatment can also include back surgery or the use of a mechanical back brace. When it comes to these two, the awkward looking brace is preferable to use for me than surgery, but that choice will be yours to make.

For some patients a periodic shot of steroids into the problem area can do wonders. If this is a choice given to you, be ready for instances when the doctor hits a nerve with the needle. The needle is 5 to 6 inches long and is going into an area where there is a high concentration of nerves. This discomfort will not last. It also will not be pleasant during the procedure.

Last there are certain exercises that you can do. The most effective exercises are the ones that strengthen the back muscles. This will help you manage the pain.  Along with the exercises most doctors recommend the loss of some weight. The main reason for this is that an overwhelming majority of patients with chronic back pain are overweight. This is a contributing factor to their problem at times.

The proper chronic back pain treatment will be chosen after the right diagnosis is determined by a qualified physician.

For any patient to receive any type of back pain treatment, the source of the pain must first be determined. This will be best done by a physician. This is because they have the expertise and knowledge to interpret the results accurately. They will also have the proper equipment to perform the required tests.

To prescribe the right back pain treatment will be determined from test that covers your range of motion, current nerve function and physical touching to find localized areas of discomfort. To discount that the pain is not from an illness or infection, blood and urine test should be performed. X-rays are also done to look for cracks in any bones including those that could have developed in the spinal column.

The nerve test is the one most of you will not be comfortable with. This is necessary to determine if surgery is necessary. Electrodes are placed at different ends of a particular nerve. For me it was from my neck to my fingers.  An electrical current is then passed down the nerve. Since the amount of current that is sent is know, it is possible to determine if there is a loss along the nerve. In my case there was. Unfortunately this took multiple times to make sure the readings were correct. To isolate the exact area of loss, the doctor had to move the electrodes down my arm. This lasted for over an hour. With every test there was a current applied to the nerve. Now for the really bad news with each necessary current that flows through your nerves, you feel it. It feels just like it sounds, being electrocuted. The pain is tolerable but not preferred.

In the end it was determined I had 2 problems. One of the sources of my back pain was in my neck, the other was in my elbow. The problem in my elbow was treated with surgery. This was when a doctor moved the nerve in my elbow to release the pressure and strain that had been place on the nerve. The source of my back pain from the problem in my neck was not so simple. I was given a choice of back pain treatments. The first was surgery. This choice had the possibilities of not doing any good to paralyzing me.

The second option for my back pain treatment is the path I chose. This treatment was non-surgical. I have learned the proper stretching techniques for the muscles and learned to have better posture. The occasion massage also brings instant relief. This form of back pain treatment is currently working. I have had several opinions and if the pain gets too sever, acupuncture is the next logical step. My major problem is my fear of needles.

There is a third option some people chose, but it is only temporary relief as a form of back pain treatment and that is through pain medicine. My advice to you would be to avoid this as your back pain treatment due to the possibility of an addiction.