• Back Pain creates problem
• Chronic Back Pain Treatments
• Complementary and Alternative Therapies
• Back Pain or Dorsopathy Basics
• Screening and Diagnosis of Back Pain
• Seek Medical Advice in Back Pain
• Statistics for Back Pain

Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Back Pain

In addition to the treatment options discussed above, some people have also had success with a range of complementary and alternative therapies for relief of back pain.

The main complementary and alternative therapies include:

Acupuncture: The National Institutes of Health has found that acupuncture can offer effective treatment for some types of chronic pain, including chronic back pain. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, but since the 1970's, acupuncture has gained in popularity in the Western world. During an acupuncture treatment, a practitioner inserts sterilized stainless steel needles to various depths at strategic points on your body. The purpose of these needles is to stimulate your Central Nervous System to release endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving substances. Acupuncture is also thought to be able to alter how your blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated and how they respond to pain.

Chiropractic Care: The majority of people who consult a chiropractor do so because of back pain. Before consulting a chiropractor, you should discuss this treatment with you doctor to ensure that you select the most appropriate specialist for your type of problem. In addition to chiropractors, many osteopathic doctors and physical therapists also have training in spinal manipulation, and they may also be able to help improve your back pain. Injury or strain are the most common causes for low back pain, and for these causes there is no magic cure. It simply takes time for your back to heal. For most cases, back pain lasts just as long if you go to a chiropractor or a physical therapist as if you did not seek any treatment at all. However, these treatments can make you more comfortable, and also reduce the pain, while you wait for your back to heal.

Magnet Therapy: At the current time, there is no definitive evidence that magnet therapy relieves pain. However, a great deal of anecdotal evidence suggests that some people do experience at least some pain relief from magnet therapy. Many theories have been proposed as to why magnet therapy may relieve pain, however none of these theories has (at the current time) been scientifically proved. Clinical trials involving magnet therapy have all produced conflicting results - some suggest that effective pain relief can be obtained from magnets, and others report that the magnets have no effect at all. Clearly, further research is required.

Massage: Massage is a relaxing method to relieve stress and pain, and also promote healing in people with certain health conditions. During a massage, a therapist manipulates your body's soft tissues, such as your muscles, skin, and tendons, using their hands and fingers. Several types of health care professionals, such as a massage therapist, physical therapist, or even an occupational therapist, can perform massage.

Other: Some other complementary and alternative therapies may include Biofeedback, Yoga, and Hypnosis.

Warning: A wide range of complementary and alternative therapies exist, and some people claim that these can perform miracles and cure all sorts of ailments. However, in the vast majority of cases, no scientific evidence exists to back up these claims.

When considering these other complementary and alternative therapies, ensure that you are open-minded but also ensure that you maintain a sceptical perspective at the same time.

If someone makes a claim, then ask them to prove it. If they start using big words and mumbo jumbo, or start claiming all sorts of wild or extravagant conspiracy theories, then the chances are that they are trying to scam you. Before you part with any money, ensure that you take a critical look at the information you have about the treatment, discuss the treatment with other people who are currently using it, and, most importantly, discuss the treatment with your doctor.

Scammers have perfected ways to convince you that their complementary and alternative medicine products are the best, and that you should part with your hard earned money to trial their "treatments".

If people are trying to sell you books, videos, or products that offer cures that sound magical or are too good to be true, then you should be especially sceptical of them.

Please Note: If the pain is a result of any of the rarer or more exotic causes of back pain, such as Arthritis, Cauda Equina Syndrome, or cancer or infection of the spine or spinal cord, then suitable treatments, in addition to those discussed above, should also be sought as soon as possible.