DEFINE – What is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain is back pain which lasts for more than 12 weeks.
BREAKING DOWN – Chronic Back Pain
While most back pain resolves itself within a few days or weeks, chronic back pain is that which lasts much longer, and as a result requires certain lifestyle changes. Chronic back pain is further more common in the lower back.
Back pain can be caused by many things, from heavy lifting at work, to overexertion during physical exercise, or simply from having bad posture while sitting or standing. As a result, back pain in general is very common. Most individuals will experience back pain at some point in their life. The pain can vary from sharp sensations to dull aches. As such, it is treated in a variety of different ways.
Sedentary lifestyles are an increasingly common cause of chronic back pain, due to the inactivity of the body often during the whole work day. Whereas our ancestors would have been moving around constantly, a lot of people these days have to work while sitting at a desk. This can cause a number of issues for the body. Hunching over and craning the neck can exacerbate the pressure on the back and cause undue stress, which could then lead to acute pain or eventually, chronic pain.
While it may sound like it’s something permanent, chronic back pain can actually be cured. In rare cases, surgery is considered. With surgery, some patients are fortunate and are relieved of this back pain, but many more are not so lucky, and the pain persists throughout their lives. However, other less invasive treatment options are available for individuals with chronic back pain.
The older one gets, the more likely they are to develop some type of back pain, due to the deterioration of bone strength amongst other factors. As a result, staying in general good health and looking after your body can help in leaps and bounds. Also, strengthening exercises and other physical activities can vastly help decrease your risk of back pain and also resolve it.
At Athlete’s Choice Massage, our fully qualified massage therapists know just what to do to help you with your back pain. Book your appointment online today by clicking the button below.