Roughly 16 million Americans deal with chronic back pain. For them, treatments, particularly pain management strategies, are ongoing. If you are living with back pain, you may need support from a number of people and resources to manage your daily activities. In this blog, we will explore how a back pain support system can help meet your needs and improve your quality of life.
Get Educated About Back Pain
Dealing with back pain can be a difficult road to navigate. However, knowledge about your condition and treatment options can empower you on your journey to pain management and healing.
Learn as much as you can about your medical condition and what treatment strategies are available to you in the medical and general community. You will be equipped to communicate your concerns more confidently and effectively with your back pain care team and support system, too.
Educate yourself by seeking out reputable resources on managing chronic back pain. There are many websites, books, and other published resources which provide valuable information, tips, and techniques for coping with back pain.
However, do your research carefully to discern what are credible and reliable sources of information. Your back pain doctor and his team can provide you with suggestions to pursue on your own.
Involve Your Inner Circle in Your Pain Management Support System
In other words, ask for help from trusted relatives and friends. Many of them may be willing to lend a kind, listening ear if you feel alone in your back pain.
Plus, they can also assist if you need practical help, such as running errands or doing light housekeeping. This will help you ease the burden of daily tasks and be better able to focus on recovery and improved physical function
Stay as Active as Possible
While it may seem counterintuitive, staying active is key to managing back pain. Exercise helps strengthen the muscles supporting your spine, improves flexibility and releases endorphins which act as natural pain relievers.
Part of an effective support system for back pain is joining with a friend or relative for your daily or weekly exercise. You can walk with a partner, participate in an exercise class, or swim together. This will make staying active fun and enjoyable while also holding each other accountable for improved fitness and pain management.
Find a Back Pain Support Group
Yes, chronic back pain can be isolating, but it does not have to be that way. Find a back pain support group in your area or online. Chatting honestly about pain management strategies and airing worries and frustrations can provide a real sense of community and understanding.
Plus, other people who are in similar situations have a wealth of experience in what helps and what does not. You can learn from others’ experiences and feel a sense of belonging and support.
Explore All Your Treatment Options for Back Pain
There are various treatment options for managing both acute and chronic back pain. These may include medication, but there are many interventions as well, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and more.
At Central Florida Spine & Pain in Melbourne, FL, our back doctor, Dr. Nicholas Giordano, offers the latest and most effective interventional pain management services.
Among others, these back pain management services include:
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Radio frequency ablation, or RFA
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Dorsal root ganglion stimulators
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Nerve blocks
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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
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Trigger point injections
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Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for compression fractures of the spine
Dr. Giordano consults with each of his patients to understand their back pain symptoms and causes, along with their medical histories and personal goals for improved function and relief. From there, he develops customized treatment plans that may include one or several of the above techniques. No two back pain management plans are alike.
Your Back Pain Doctor in Melbourne, FL
Your professional team in Melbourne, FL, is central to your back pain support system. The more frequently and accurately you communicate with team members, the more finely-tuned your treatment plan can be. You can manage your back pain symptoms with the right medical care and the right approach to lifestyle habits.
Remember, at Central Florida Spine and Pain, we are always here to help. To schedule your one-on-one consultation with back pain specialist, Dr. Nicholas Giordano, please call us at (321) 802-5021, or use our secure appointment request form here. We will see you soon!