A Natural Solution To Back Pain

Getting your health back after a spine injury can be problematic if you do not approach it holistically.

Holistic health, in general, is caring for the person as a whole vs. individual parts, and using techniques that assist different bodily systems. It is not just treating the body but also the mind.

Several things have to be considered when dealing with spinal problems. The doctor needs to consider the condition of the disks and ligaments, scar tissue, muscle strength, posture, movement, and alignment. Most of the time, a simple medication prescription, while effective at reducing pain, is not a good solution in the long run. Leaving joints problems to sit for years while masking the pain, will just make future rehabilitation more difficult and less effective.

Pain is a signal for your body to avoid certain movements and can be very protective. While muscle pain is good during rehabilitation, if there is ligament or joint pain, then you’re pushing it too hard.

Exercise and stretching without attention to joint injuries, will also not work over time. It’s hard to maintain exercise when there is joint pain. Chiropractic care can keep the spine and other joints flexible while you also approach the other aspects of spine function with specific exercises and stretching.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is also part of any holistic approach. If you’re overweight, this adds tremendous stress to your spine. In some cases it may be important to first get your weight down, before commencing an exercise program, or weight training.

In addition to proper weight control you have to also consider sound nutrition in terms of vitamin and mineral consumption. Most patients need to do better at eating green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and other nutritious foods. One has to avoid harmful fats, and chemicals/preservatives that are often present in highly processed foods. Supplements such as manganese and glucosamine chondroitin may help joint health. Although there are few studies on how effective these supplements help, the downside or side effects are quite minimal.