Back pain is such a common condition that many doctors andresearchers consider the complaint a normal part of life, similarto having an occasional cold or flu. If you are a back painsufferer, you are not alone: * Back pain affects more than 80 percent of the population atsome time during their lifetime. * Back pain is second only to the common cold as a reason forvisits to the doctor and it is second only to childbirth as areason for hospitalization. * Approximately 50 percent of the working population reports backproblems every year. * The total medical cost of back pain exceeds 20 billion dollarsa year in the United States.
Back Pain Remedies For Dummies takes a holistic approachto back pain prevention and treatment. Exploring the therapeuticoptions - from conventional medicine to popularalternative treatments - this patient-friendlyguide gives you a heads-up on how to relieve pain now and avoidfuture injuries, plus * Boning up on your spinal column's pieces and parts * Uncovering some conditions that cause back pain * Examining the lineup of doctors who treat what ails yourback * Taking your pain lying down - or not * Giving weight to alternative therapies, including yoga,acupuncture, and imagery exercises * Promoting the importance of good posture * Returning to work and play with a healthy outlook * Saying yes to sex after a back injury
As you try to manage your back pain problem and investigatevarious treatment approaches, you can help yourself by beingassured and hopeful that you can remedy your problem. This reliablereference gives you plenty to reason to believe that back pain doesget better, and successful treatment is possible. You can expect tofind the best treatment for your back problem when you have someunderstanding of who treats back pain, how he or she treats it, andwhy using a multidisciplinary approach isimportant - all of that awaits in Back PainRemedies For Dummies.
Back pain is such a common condition that many doctors consider it a normal part of life — but you don't have to suffer. To start, know when to see a doctor for your pain, learn how to choose the right doctor to treat it, and ask smart questions about the tests and treatments your doctor suggests. Managing back pain requires home care, too; so develop a plan for managing your back pain at home.
About The Author
Michael S. Sinel, MD, and William W. Deardorff, PhD, a clinical health psychologist, are renowned back specialists who teach at UCLA School of Medicine and practice at California Orthopedic and Rehabilitation.
Back pain is such a common condition that many doctors consider it a normal part of life — but you don't have to suffer. To start, know when to see a doctor for your pain, learn how to choose the right doctor to treat it, and ask smart questions about the tests and treatments your doctor suggests. Managing back pain requires home care, too; so develop a plan for managing your back pain at home.
Finding the right practitioner can be the key to solving your back pain problem. Before a physician or specialist treats you, do a little checking up on your own to be sure that the healthcare professional is right for you and your back pain problem. Take the following questions into the doctor's office with you to help ensure that you find the right doctor:
What is your degree and where did you do your training?
Finding permanent relief from back pain requires you to be a proactive patient. You should feel comfortable with all the tests your doctor wants you to have, and understand the treatments that could be available to you.
If your doctor recommends that you have a medical test for your back problem, you should get answers to the following check-up questions first:
What is the name of the test, and what do you expect to learn from it?
At its best, back pain makes it hard to think about anything else; but at its worst, back pain can be debilitating. When your back suddenly acts up, try the following regime to get your pain attack under control:
Go to bed, but not for long: Limited bed rest (one to three days) can help calm down back pain.
Use ice and heat: Applying ice and heat to your back can help control the symptoms and make you more comfortable.
Initially, you can self-manage most episodes of back pain. The following warning signs, however, may indicate more serious back problems or other medical issues. If you experience one of the following, you need to visit your doctor.
Problems with your bowel (loss of feeling), bladder (trouble with urination), sexual function (inability to get an erection for men), or numbness in your groin area
Weakness in one or both of your legs and/or feet
Back pain that awakens you at night that is throbbing and aching
A serious trauma to your spine, such as a car accident or fall
Excruciating back pain or new symptoms
Problems with your medications, or using alcohol or other substances to manage your back pain problem?