Find relief from acute and chronic back pain with holistic practices
Key takeaways:
Sudden, acute back pain can become a severe, chronic problem without treatment.
Back pain can bring on other health issues such as high blood pressure and insomnia.
Traditional Chinese Medicine can effectively manage chronic and acute back pain.
Back pain can come on suddenly (acute) or be something you’ve been dealing with for years (chronic). A back pain flare-up can take weeks, months, or longer to clear up. During this time, the pain alone can stop you from doing even mundane activities. When you’re dealing with this on a regular basis, the associated symptoms can begin to seem normal.
Experiencing sudden or chronic pain is not normal, however, and it shouldn’t have to persist. We talk about what acute and chronic back pain is, other problems that can develop from it, and how to treat it holistically with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments and more.
Acute vs. chronic
Acute back pain is tender to the touch. It’s usually caused by a spasm or strain in the muscles or ligaments due to tightness or sudden trauma. It usually lasts a few days to a few weeks and can resolve on its own. If it doesn’t, it can be the start of a lifelong problem. That’s when acute pain becomes chronic pain.
Chronic back pain goes deeper and is harder to treat. It is usually age-related or due to a previous injury or surgery that continued to hurt after healing. If a new pain or flare-up lasts more than 12 weeks, it is defined as chronic.
Back pain causes other health problems, too, such as:
High blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Muscle tension
Lack of appetite
Sleeping problems
Anxiety
Depression
Once the pain has reached the chronic stage, other health issues can appear normal but don’t be fooled by your body’s unique ability to adapt. These other symptoms feed the body’s excess or deficiencies. Manual therapy and TCM look at back pain as a root problem and address it first to alleviate all symptoms.
Let’s look at the differences in acute and chronic back pain and the types of TCM modalities used to manage it.
Treating acute back pain
If addressed early, back pain that might take two weeks to heal can be treated much sooner. When an acute flare-up starts, it’s best to treat it with rest and ice immediately. These two treatments can help alleviate the inflammation and pain that occurs with an injury.
Manual therapy is the key to cutting recovery time in half. Licensed massage therapists use a concentrated amount of pressure on specific places in and around and the area of pain or spasm to reduce symptoms and increase blood flow and circulation.
When we have a buildup of blockages or stagnation, which occur upon injury, qi and blood cannot get to the places that keep us healthy, which increases pain and discomfort.
Treating chronic back pain
Chronic pain doesn’t just affect the person dealing with it but also the people that love them. Unlike acute pain, when dealing with chronic pain, you turn to heat. Heat causes our blood to move and boosts circulation. This allows more nutrients and oxygen to travel to the joints and muscles which helps with stiffness and increases range of motion.
Our bodies have to retrain themselves to be in homeostasis, which leads to being pain-free. One of the most natural ways to rid yourself of chronic pain is by manual therapy from a licensed massage therapist. Although manual therapy is by no means a quick fix, studies have shown that it can reduce and relieve pain.
Types of massages for back pain
Acupressure (Shiatsu) - Deep finger pressure applied along channels in the body to promote the free flow of energy.
Cranial- sacral therapy - Using light touch to adjust the balance and flow of cerebrospinal fluid. It is typically used in cases where a patient can’t bear a certain amount of pressure.
Deep-tissue massage - Used to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissues using deep, concentrated strokes and pressure.
Neuromuscular therapy - Used to relieve acute or chronic pain by using finger pressure on specific areas to break up stagnation.
Myofascial release - Used to release tension in the connective tissues surrounding the muscles with short, deep pressure manipulation.
Eating a healthy diet
Getting our bodies back to a functioning and pain-free state doesn’t end at heat, ice, and manual therapy. Incorporating healthy foods that reduce inflammation in our diets is key to healing. These include green leafy vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, grains, and berries. Stay away from fried foods, refined carbs, and processed sugars as they cause inflammation, making it harder for your body to heal.
Get plenty of exercise
Including exercises to strengthen surrounding muscles to alleviate pressure on the affected area of pain in your daily routine can make a huge difference. Stretching before every exercise is imperative. Stretch therapy is a great way to combat pain. Incorporating specific stretches relaxes the nervous system, lengthens muscles, and keeps lactic acid buildup from forming and causing more pain.
Ask your manual therapist here at Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness for different exercises and stretches to incorporate in your healing journey in between sessions. It will make each treatment more effective and long-lasting and it will help you get back to the pain-free life you want to live.
Herbal medicine
Herbal medicines have been around since early humans realized certain plants could help sicknesses and injuries. Cayenne, white willow bark, devil’s claw, and lavender have all been associated with pain relief. Incorporating herbal medicines like these into your diet is as easy as drinking tea or taking a supplement.
TCM such as massage, healthy eating, exercise, and herbal medicine are drug-free alternatives for back pain relief, no matter how long you’ve struggled with it. Small lifestyle changes can make a significant impact on pain levels.
We are here for your holistic needs
You don’t have to struggle with back pain. There are effective drug-free solutions. Eacuwell is a health, well-being, and longevity center that takes a holistic, functional approach to your physical and physiological state via a deliberate combination of Eastern and Western medicinal practices. Call today for a complimentary consultation.
