Reducing Back Pain Without Surgery

Though I specialize in minimally invasive surgery for back pain, I still believe that surgery should be a final measure taken after you've tried all other options... and the back pain remains chronic. It's up to you to watch your back, but in case you're in pain here are some suggestions that can help you postpone or possibly even prevent back surgery.

Please see your private physician first before taking ANY of the suggestions in this article!

Before getting into our tips, here are some quick signs that you may REALLY need to go to the hospital:

1) Visit Your Doctor!
Your first order of business after a back injury that keeps you from your normal activity is to seek the advice of your physician and get an accurate diagnosis.

2) Rest!
One of the most common back injuries is the slipped disk - rest at the early stages of injury is one of the best recovery tools available. Lie on your back on the floor and place pillows under your knees and head. Also try placing your feet and calves on a chair. Make yourself as comfortable as possible on the floor (I'd suggest obtaining a yoga mat for a bit of extra cushioning) as you need to relax and rest your back for about two days.

3) Heat!
Heat can really help with those ongoing muscle spasms you're having as a result of working in the garden for five hours straight this weekend ;) Heat the spasm for periods of 20-30 minutes at a time.

4) Stretching!
Only conduct stretches with the approval of your family physician. The muscles of your back are deeply interwoven down into the muscles of your butt and legs so often a stretching regimen can reduce certain types of back pain. If your pain is chronic you may find that several months of stretching can help reduce pain. In particular you should concentrate on your hamstrings, the piriformis, the psoas major and your glutes.