Back pain is caused by a host of issues from environmental to occupational and even emotional. While many people try to remedy this persistent issue with pharmaceuticals or traditional medicine, such treatments may only mediate back pain until a more radical approach is recommended, like surgery.
Needless to say, this is not an ideal outcome. Otherwise-healthy people shouldn’t have to go under the knife to find relief. People with other health issues should be exposed to that kind of treatment even less.
What causes back pain? Most commonly, a few basic issues:
- Strain
- Obesity
- Stress
When muscles are strained it can create a cascade effect. One muscle or a small group of them can become strained, leading to another muscle group having to take over. Sometimes back pain can be caused by other muscles being too strong, like lower back pain from tight hamstrings. Obesity is also a major contributor to stress on back muscles. After a sustained period this can cause additional stress due to bad posture, overuse, or other trauma. Compounded by the emotional pressure of dealing with the pain day to day, back pain can seem overwhelming. As a psychological factor, this becomes a vicious cycle.
One remedy for back pain can be therapeutic massage. I’ve seen clients with pain all over their back and shoulders. After just one session concentrating on helping the muscles release tension they can begin to feel themselves getting back to normal. It’s not just about strain, but about energy. By getting energy flowing in the right direction we can stimulate healing in specific areas of the body. In this way, instead of using a drug to mask the pain, an individual is actually healing and getting back to normal movement.
If obesity is an issue, regulating diet with new alternatives and being sure to supplement the diet with the right nutrients will help decrease stress on the back and increase blood flow. Blood flow is so important because we’re talking about the unrestricted movement of energy throughout the body.
Finally, it’s important to take into account our emotional state when we’re experiencing back pain. The mind can refer just as much pain as a part of the body, if not more. Restoring elemental balance within the body can be a crucial piece of the puzzle when returning to a healthy state of mind. A personalized treatment program that includes herbal remedies, or injections of essential amino acids and other nutrients, can lend a boost that will help the mind’s built-in coping mechanisms get back on track. If it’s simply a matter of stress, acupuncture can do wonders, releasing pent up energy that is blocked by negative influences, almost like a wake up call for frayed nerves. This works similarly to massage, but even more precise.
If you’re experiencing problems with back pain, call me at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine in Key West at 305-296-5358, or use the Contact form below. We’ll schedule a time that works for you to share your concerns and get you on track to not just relief, but life.
Dr. Ashley Hoyt, A.P.
