By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-11-17 19:03:19 | Word Count: 664
If you have a bad back, or severe back pain, you may be facing surgery. But, have you looked at your other options before embarking on such an invasive procedure with drastic side effects? There are countless back surgery alternatives to explore. Depending on the source of your back pain, some may be more effective than others. Here are a few back surgery alternatives to try:
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• Inversion therapy. This is a fairly new technique that involves turning your entire body upside down. This allows gravity to naturally decompress your spine and get it back into proper alignment. For those who want to try this technique in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, companies like The Healthy Back Institute sell inversion tables online. Visit www.losethebackpain.com for more information on getting your own inversion therapy table.
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• Massages. Getting a massage can be a great tool to help relieve back pain. It will help stimulate blood flow in the area to promote healing, and the motion helps relieve tension that may be putting pressure on sensitive back areas.
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• Acupuncture. Although not widely accepted, the technique is gaining in popularity in the west. Studies have even been done recently to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture as a valid option for relieving pain. It works by inserting long, thin needles into the area. Scientifically, its difficult to pinpoint what this causes or why it works, but the Chinese believe it helps to restore your bodys natural flow of "Chi," or energy. To them, having a balanced Chi is essential to living a healthy, pain free life. Acupuncture is their solution to restoring the flow of Chi.
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• Cold compresses and heating pads. If the pain is due to an injury, its important to use a cold compress as soon as possible to help stop and reduce swelling in the area. If allowed to progress, swelling will make pain more intense by pushing on sensitive areas in the back, sending pain radiating out from the point of origin. A cold compress helps stop this progression. Conversely, heat will help to soothe tense muscles once the swelling has been stopped. If your pain is severe, a typical heating pad may not be enough to provide you with long lasting pain relief. You may need to keep going back to it throughout the day. However, an infrared heating pad can help soothe tense back muscles for much longer as its technology allows heat to penetrate the area much more deeply to provide lasting, effective relief. The Healthy Back Institute has a wide variety of infrared heating pads, should you decide you want more effective relief from your heating pad.
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• Back support cushions. Poor posture is a huge cause of back pain, and can lead to problems that require surgery like herniated discs and sciatica. A back support cushion is extremely helpful for those that spend extended periods of time sitting. Theyre made to support your lower back, and relieve pressure on sensitive areas. The Healthy Back Institute even has one with a built in massager to help relax tension away and increase blood flow to the area.
These are only a few back surgery alternatives. For a look at some of the others, visit www.losethebackpain.com and make sure you know all your options before proceeding with invasive and debilitating back surgery.
