Aging is, to put it mildly, strange. Your body goes through many unpleasant but inevitable changes, such as the development of laugh lines, gray hair, and arthritic joints. Back discomfort is a common symptom of aging that may become chronic. No matter how mild or severe, back discomfort may severely limit daily activities.
If you or in-home care start noticing your senior complaining about back pain, these tips might be beneficial. Not every senior will need surgery to fix the problem, but they may need to change their lifestyle habits. Here are some ways to battle chronic back pain.
Physical Therapy
The therapy of persistent back pain should begin with exercise. Under the supervision of your doctor and spine physical therapist, it is one of the first therapies you should consider. Unfortunately, not everyone benefits from the same fitness routine. The exercises must be modified to accommodate your unique signs and symptoms. Keeping up with the workouts you do at home is also crucial.
Start Practicing Mindfulness and Meditation
Physical and mental exhaustion are inevitable results of living with chronic back pain. You may be referred to a rehabilitation psychologist to help you cope with feelings of anger, impatience, and despair that come with living with chronic pain. This expert may suggest cognitive and relaxation practices like yoga, tai chi, and meditation to divert attention away from the discomfort.
Always Focus on Diets for Pain Management
Meals high in trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods are common in inflammatory diets. If you suffer from persistent back pain, it’s important to talk to your doctor about whether or not a change in your diet can help. Keeping your weight where it should be might relieve stress on your spine and, therefore, your back pain.
Change Your Lifestyle
When living with persistent discomfort, one must learn to make adjustments. Pace yourself and pay attention to your body’s cues. It’s important to take breaks while doing strenuous activities like mowing the lawn or shopping. Be aware of what triggers your discomfort, and try to avoid doing it if you can. You could get some relief from the pain in your back, and you might also be able to stop the underlying disease from becoming worse. Reducing or eliminating tobacco use is another healthy choice that may be made. Studies have shown nicotine to have a multiplicative effect on pain and slow the healing process.
Look for Injection Based Treatments if Necessary
Injection-based therapies, such as nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, and nerve ablations, may treat persistent back pain. They’re put to use when the origin of the pain has already been identified, and they may assist rule out certain potential reasons if the therapy doesn’t work. While injections may provide temporary pain relief, they are not a substitute for medical attention or a permanent solution.
Medication Management
Medications such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory medicines, and muscle relaxants may be used to manage persistent back pain. However, most are not designed for long-term usage and have undesirable side effects.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering In-Home Care in Ontario, CA please contact the caring staff at Calvary Senior Care today. (866) 710-8767
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