What are the Different Causes of Jaw Pain?

, ,

Jaw pain is one of the more complex types of pain to ignore. Because it is centered on the face, it can make participating in focused or social activity tough. While you may think it’s just a cramp, severe or ongoing jaw pain can be a sign of serious dental or muscular problems. This article will explore the common causes of jaw pain and what to do if yours doesn’t subside. 

Different Causes of Jaw Pain

If your jaw pain doesn’t subside after a few hours of its onset, you may want to explore some of these causes to determine whether or not to see a physician: 

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD)

This is one of the most common causes of jaw pain caused by injury, overuse, or inflammation of the “hinge” joints on each side of your jaw. Like arthritis, it can cause pain, clicking sounds in the joint, or other symptoms that inhibit your ability to move your jaw comfortably. 

Tooth decay

If a cavity, abscess, infection, or gum disease progress without treatment, it may cause pain that radiates down the jaw. This pain will likely progress slowly but can become constant and unbearable if not treated soon. Be sure to visit your dentist frequently and make an appointment immediately if the pain in the tooth begins to cause problems with the jaw. 

Myofascial pain syndrome

This is a lesser common cause of jaw pain but can signify a more severe problem. Myofascial pain syndrome is caused by pressure on sensitive or “trigger” spots in the muscles, often overworking them. It can cause pain in the power itself or unrelated parts of the body (referred pain). 

Trigeminal neuralgia

This condition is caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve responsible for feeling in a large portion of the face. It is not limited to the jaw but can often cause pain in the upper and lower jaw. Luckily, trigeminal neuralgia is not typical, but it may be a cause of your unexplained jaw pain. 

Heart attack

While this is rare, in some circumstances, heart attacks can cause pain in other areas of the body, including the jaw. Referred pain in the left side of the jaw is more common among women but can happen to anyone. If you have any of the following symptoms coupled with jaw pain on one side, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention: shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, sweating, chest pain, or feeling lightheaded. 

When To Seek Help

Jaw pain can be caused by a toothache or overworking the muscles, typically not severe. However, if your jaw pain is unexplained, painful, or persists for more than a few days, you should seek help to determine a diagnosis and possible treatment options. The longer you wait to treat jaw pain, the worse your symptoms may become. Before it becomes an unbearable daily pain, talk to your local PPOA for help with jaw pain. 

/by

Can yoga help with my pain?

,

Yoga – the practice of body, breath, and mindfulness exercises to enhance wellbeing – is one of the most popular ways to self-remedy both physical and mental issues people face every day. Whether you’re trying to ease the tension of the workday or engage in a bit of self-care after an emotional event, yoga can help you relax physically and mentally and better engage with the world around you. 

However, is there a science to the ways yoga can mitigate pain? In this article, we’ll look at the various benefits of yoga and how you can safely practice yoga to improve chronic pain symptoms.

The Benefits of Yoga

Many people cite enhanced relaxation of the body and mind as the primary benefit of regular yoga practice. Along with the nice stretch your muscles can experience, yoga teaches us to breathe deeply, let our minds relax, and focus on the present moment. While these benefits may not seem like a concrete treatment for chronic pain, research shows that it can alleviate some of the tension built up after a year of stress.

The injury itself doesn’t solely cause chronic pain. It heightens the awareness of the nervous system and can cause emotional traumas that further intensify the injury’s physical symptoms. In this way, the mind works against healing from chronic pain. 

When someone practices yoga with focus, they can help retrain the mind to engage in a state of relaxation. Rather than hyper-focusing on pain, your body is focused on rejuvenation. This can not only help heal the emotional trauma caused by an injury or chronic pain condition but can lessen one’s sensitivity to pain both in the short- and long term. 

How To Practice Yoga Safely 

If you are struggling with chronic pain, it is essential to practice safely, not further exacerbate your injury. It is best to begin yoga practice with a licensed instructor who can discuss your current medical issues and guide you in a safe method for your body. However, if you want to get started at home, these tips can ensure you are safe throughout the session: 

  • Don’t push yourself too far. If something starts to hurt in a particular pose, back off or try an alternative within your comfortable range of motion.
  • Begin with gentle or beginner yoga practices. Advanced yoga sessions may involve intense stretches, strength-building poses, or other activities that may put you at risk if you are not experienced. Start with simple exercises and build yourself up with the help of an instructor. 
  • Choose all seated or standing exercises if you aren’t comfortable in certain positions. For example, yoga exercises like the downward-facing dog or plank pose may be uncomfortable if you struggle with wrist pain. If you are struggling to get into these postures comfortably, skip them altogether or find a session catered to your specific needs. 

Yoga is one of the most excellent everyday practices you can use to help alleviate chronic pain. However, it is often not enough to reduce symptoms entirely. If you are looking for long-lasting therapeutic options for regular pain treatment, contact your local PPOA clinic to learn about medical interventions that will work for you. 

/by

NHS’s List of Worst Possible Pain Experiences

, ,

One might think that the most significant source of the pain would come from traumatic injuries like animal bites or car accidents.  However, the National Health Service (NHS) has found that many common injuries and illnesses can cause pain that is just as excruciating, if not more so.  During a traumatic injury, your body rushes with adrenaline and other hormones that temporarily deaden the pain. However, if you have a creeping illness, shock does not protect you from pain.

Below is the NHS’s list of worst pain experiences a human can have, and what you read here may surprise you:

  • Shingles – a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus
  • Cluster headaches – sudden and excruciating headaches that center around the eye
  • Frozen shoulder – a degenerative disease of the shoulder joint that can make it nearly impossible to lift one’s arm, with constant aches and pains in the area
  • Broken bones
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) – prolonged pain after a traumatic injury to the limb
  • Heart attack
  • Slipped disc – The bulging and degradation of the disc padding between vertebrae
  • Sickle cell disease – Malformation of blood cells that causes a variety of painful symptoms
  • Arthritis
  • Migraine 
  • Sciatica – compression of the spinal nerves
  • Kidney stones – Deposits of minerals in the kidneys that pass through the urethra, causing excruciating pain as they move
  • Appendicitis – inflammation or rupture of the appendix
  • Trigeminal neuralgia – Chronic pain in the nerves of the head and face
  • Acute pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas
  • Gout – An inflammatory arthritis of the joints
  • Endometriosis – Tissue that usually lines the uterus begins forming outside the uterine wall, causing painful cysts and other symptoms
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Fibromyalgia – A disease-causing widespread pain, fatigue, sleeping problems, and other medical issues
  • Pain after surgery

Unfortunately, many of these conditions cause chronic pain. If not treated, they can debilitate you significantly and impact your life quality in unimaginable ways. However, options other than medication and tolerance can help you recover from a chronic pain illness. 

Talk to your local PPOA clinic to learn more about chronic pain treatments for various diseases and conditions. We can help you avoid some of these common causes of debilitating pain and give you your life back to enjoy. Give us a call today to learn more.

/by

The truth about long-term COVID pain

We are now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, wreaking havoc in hospitals, homes, and families nationwide. To date, over 50 million Americans have recovered from the virus, but 13 million of those survivors are reporting symptoms weeks or months after negative test results come back. This “long COVID,” as many call it, is both a mystery and great concern for researchers who believe the effects of the disease can be lifelong in some cases. 

Symptoms of Long-COVID

Long-term COVID symptoms are typically not as severe as symptoms during an active infection, but they can disrupt routines and make daily activities significantly more difficult. The top five reported symptoms from long-COVID include: 

  • Cough and shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Mental “fog” and headaches
  • Pain in the chest and joints
  • Loss of taste and smell

Long-COVID and Chronic Pain

Unfortunately, chronic pain is becoming increasingly reported among long-COVID patients. Reports show that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is causing more back and muscle pain than previous variants, which could be contributing to this phenomenon. The inflammation caused by the virus, coupled with prolonged periods of bed rest, can all make back pain, joint pain, and general aches throughout the body worse over time. 

Inflammation is a common side effect in all types of viral infections, leading to flare-ups of existing conditions such as arthritis. If your pre-existing joint pain is worse now, it could be caused by the virus and may not go away for a long time. If this is the case, you need to contact your PPOA pain specialist to discuss options for your worsened arthritis or other chronic pain conditions. 

Ways to Lessen Long-COVID Symptoms

Long-COVID may feel like the worst thing in the world right now, but there are ways to speed your recovery and get your old lifestyle back. If you are struggling weeks or months after a negative test result, here’s what to do: 

Engage in light exercise

Preliminary research shows that light exercise can aid in lessening symptoms of fatigue and soreness and potentially improve breathing. Simple activities like yoga or walking around the block are recommended to help boost energy levels and mood—however, it’s essential to listen to your body and not over-exert yourself if exercise is too strenuous.

Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake

Alcohol and caffeine intake can disrupt your circadian rhythm, making the recovery process that much more complicated. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption is rising due to COVID-19, making prolonged sickness even worse. If you can, limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine altogether to ensure your body gets enough rest and can adequately recover. 

Quit smoking

Smokers often have a hard time recovering from COVID-19 because of the damage smoking does to your respiratory system. Quitting smoking is never a bad idea, but it is especially beneficial if you still suffer from COVID-19 symptoms. Even lessening your cigarette, e-cig, or other smoking device intake can help you recover faster. 

Eat healthily

It is no secret that processed, carb-rich diets can make anyone feel not their best, but this is especially true when battling illness. High-fiber diets along with plenty of protein and fresh foods can nourish your body for a faster recovery. 

Long-term COVID pain is serious. If none of these methods work for you, it may be time to talk to a specialist to determine the cause of your long-term symptoms. If you have pain questions or would like to speak to a doctor, contact your local PPOA office today. 

/by

How To Cope With Undiagnosed Chronic Pain

We hear this story all too often at PPOA clinics. A patient comes to us exasperated – they’ve been to every doctor and specialist in their area trying to express the magnitude of their pain or fatigue. Test after test; question after never-ending question; and yet, their doctors still can’t give them any other answer than “It’s all in your head.” Hearing this repeatedly makes the patient start to doubt their own experiences and honestly believe they’ve gone crazy. 

This worsens when their family starts to doubt their experience. Loved ones start to tune, saying, “You must be faking it so you can get out of this or that.” They may tell you you’re lazy, exaggerating, or simply trying to get your hands on pain medication. But the pain is still there, and it’s real. 

Some of these patients end up in our clinics, where they finally find what they’ve been looking for. A physician sits down with them, asks about their pain, and has someone believe them for the first time in a long time. At PPOA, our first response is to diagnose and treat, not assume our patients are wrong about their symptoms. Invisible pain is accurate, and there are options out there for those who refuse to give up. 

Why Your Pain Is Being Ignored

Many chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, are challenging to diagnose with blood tests or scans. Therefore, physicians rely on self-reported symptoms and patient history to determine a diagnosis. An experienced physician will assess the clues and correctly diagnose these chronic pain conditions. Still, inexperienced physicians or those who do not work with chronic pain may miss these signs.

This is why psychological diagnoses are commonly used to explain chronic pain, even if not the actual cause. To add to this problematic situation, women develop chronic pain conditions at much higher rates. The medical field has had a strong history of misdiagnosing women’s health issues. Despite the headway made in today’s society, many women work against subconscious prejudice when going to the doctor for their chronic pain. 

How To Cope With Undiagnosed Chronic Pain

The most important thing we encourage patients to do is not give up. There is a diagnosis for you, and it often begins with finding the right pain specialist who will treat your condition seriously. Below are three steps. 

Journal your symptoms.

Chronic pain conditions are difficult to diagnose, so the more information you can give to your doctor, the better equipped you’ll both be to find a solution. Keeping a daily journal of symptoms over a few weeks or months can help your doctor spot patterns and better understand your condition.

Listen to your body.

Many people with undiagnosed chronic pain feel they have to “fake it” or hide their symptoms around those who don’t believe them. They are led to believe that they are a burden, but this can inhibit your recovery and make you push your body beyond its limits. Just remember, you come first before other people’s beliefs of you. 

Don’t let shaming affect your search for answers.

Others will likely try to tell you that your pain is exaggerated or that you’re trying to get pain killers from your doctor. This shaming reflects those around you, not a reflection of your character. Tune out this negativity, even from well-meaning loved ones, because it will only hinder your search for answers. 

PPOA is a specialist in all types of chronic pain, and we work toward long-lasting solutions that won’t slow you down. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation for your undiagnosed chronic pain, give your local office a call today!

 

/by

Ways To Treat Rotator Cuff Pain

Rotator cuff tears are a common muscular injury where the muscles that connect and keep the shoulder together become damaged. This can happen due to a fall, a repetitive motion of the shoulders such as throwing or lifting, or from wear and tear due to age. While rotator cuff injuries are not life-threatening, they can cause disruptions in daily life and activities and intense pain throughout the shoulder. 

Rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff tendinitis (inflammation of the shoulder’s tendons) make it hard to enjoy your favorite hobbies and activities. They can also lead to long-term disability or pain when not treated. If you are experiencing recurring shoulder pain, it may be time to talk to your physician about at-home remedies and treatments:

5 Ways To Treat Rotator Cuff Pain

Whether you’re experiencing a sports injury or feeling the pain from years of manual work, treating your rotator cuff injury is essential to your quality of life. Below are the five most common ways to treat tears and inflammation in the rotator cuff, all of which you can discuss with your PPOA pain specialist: 

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the best at-home remedies for minor muscular injuries. Keep your shoulder elevated and allow swelling to naturally go down with the help of an ice pack. Resting the muscles is also essential in the first few days after injury, but don’t let them atrophy for too long. Talk to your doctor about exercises you can do in the days and weeks after the injury to strengthen the muscles and ensure proper recovery. 

Physical therapy

If your rotator cuff injury has caused significant damage to the muscle, you may need physical therapy. This can help build strength back in your muscles and prevent long-term pain from improper healing. 

Pain medications

During the recovery period, your doctor may prescribe a variety of pain medications, from simple over-the-counter NSAIDs to stronger medications for severe injuries. We use pain medication at PPOA to help patients overcome the first few days after an injury, but do not recommend medication as a long-term solution for chronic rotator cuff pain. 

Injections

Nerve blocking injections are sometimes used for rotator cuff injuries if other treatments are not sufficient. While this is not an ideal long-term solution, it can help patients recover without the need for surgery. 

Surgery

If the rotator cuff injury is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery for long-term relief and improved function of the shoulder. This is common in sports injuries and can ensure mobility in the shoulder even after a severe tear or dislocation. 

PPOA offers an array of treatment options for our patients, tailored specifically to your needs and long-term goals. If you are interested in alternate options for a rotator cuff injury, contact your local PPOA clinic today. 

 

/by

How Opioids Can Cause You More Pain

,

Prescription painkillers are becoming the most common way to treat chronic pain in the U.S. This has led to the opioid epidemic – the increasing prevalence of opioid overuse and addiction that often begins in the doctor’s office. Patients come to their physician for help with pain and leave with a crippling drug dependency that causes more problems than the original disease or diagnosis.

The effects of opioid overuse are not limited to addiction and disruptions in lifestyle either. Many patients report heightened sensitivity to pain after months of drug use. This leaves them not only addicted but in worse pain than they had before. 

How does this happen? This article will explore the effects of opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) and how you can prevent it when experiencing chronic pain.

How Opioids Cause You More Pain

Physical pain is transmitted through the body by pain receptors in your central and peripheral nervous system. How opioids reduce this pain is by blocking the nerve receptors and, therefore, blocking any pain signals in the body. This works for as long as the drug is in the system but wears off after several hours when the pain receptors return.

The body responds to the drug by creating even more pain receptors than before, which can again be blocked by opioid use. However, this creates a feedback loop where more and more pain receptors are produced, making the drugs less effective. This leads to a heightened pain response – hyperalgesia – increasing dosages and dependence on the drugs.

Long-term use of opioids can also disrupt our body’s ability to produce endorphins, the natural substance that helps us deal with pain. A lack of endorphins coupled with a heightened pain response can create more intense, challenging to manage, even with opioids. You may start to see your chronic pain symptoms recur or have severe pain from minor accidents such as stubbing your toe or scraping your skin. 

Other symptoms of opioid-induced hyperalgesia include:

  • Decentralized pain from an injury or accident
  • Chronic widespread pain 
  • Pain that lasts longer than expected

Breaking the Habit

Opioids also halt our tolerance building to pain, but physical and emotional. If someone is using opioids daily, they likely don’t feel any pain at all. Then, when they try to wean themselves off, the pain is much worse than before because their body is not coping with it. It is the same with any other skill – the more you practice, the better you become. If you stop practicing resilience against pain, you lose the ability to fight it. 

This does not mean in any way that those in chronic pain should not seek help to stop it. However, opioids are a dangerous solution for long-term pain that can not only worsen it but leave you vulnerable to any disruption in your medication regimen. 

Talk to your PPOA clinic about alternative pain options if you want long-lasting relief. We are led by innovation and excellence in pain management and want to help our patients lead healthy, independent lives free of pain. 

To learn more about how you can get off the opioids and find long-lasting relief for pain, contact your local PPOA clinic today. 

 

/by

What are the Common Causes of Pelvic Pain?

The pelvis is home to some of your body’s most important organs and bones, including the hip bones, intestines, bladder, and internal reproductive organs. Pelvic pain, therefore, can be challenging to diagnose because such organs are so close together and often have similar symptoms when something goes wrong. 

Even if you think you know where your pelvic pain is coming from, it’s essential to talk to a doctor to receive a diagnosis. A mild pain you think is IBS or menstrual cramps could be a sign of something more serious, especially if it is irregular or more intense than your typical aching stomach. 

If you experience bloating, swelling, intense pain, or pain that comes and goes often, you may want to see a doctor to diagnose your pelvic pain.

10 Common Causes of Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can arise from digestive, urinary, or reproductive symptoms, but some diseases are much more common than others. Ask your doctor if you think the symptoms fit for any of these conditions:

Ovarian cysts

Cysts commonly occur on the ovaries throughout a woman’s lifetime, and typically they cause no harm. However, a ruptured cyst can cause intense pain and further complications if left untreated. 

Painful bladder syndrome

Interstitial cystitis, more commonly known as painful bladder syndrome, is caused by a dysfunction of pelvic nerves. The pelvic nerves typically signal you to urinate when the bladder is full, but sometimes if the nerves are damaged, they can cause that urge to happen when your bladder is not full or cause general pain in the pelvis.

Pregnancy complications

There are a variety of complications arising from pregnancy that can cause pelvic pain. More severe complications include miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies, but many other causes of mild pelvic pain do not cause harm to you or your baby. It’s essential to get checked out if you have unexpected bleeding or cramps, even if you do not think you are pregnant. 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes unexplained, widespread pain throughout the body. Fibromyalgia can cause pain anywhere, including the pelvis. Talk to your doctor about fibromyalgia if you have unexplained pelvic pain, fatigue, memory, and mood issues. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a common digestive disorder that causes bloating, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, and sometimes eating trouble. It is caused by various digestive issues and stress but can interfere with lifestyle, diet choices, and overall quality of life.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is another type of digestive disorder that causes many symptoms as IBS. However, it is typically hereditary and lifelong, making treatment more tricky. 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when the same tissue that typically lines the interior of the uterus begins forming on the outside. It causes many problems, from infertility to pelvic pain and intense period symptoms. 

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is caused by inflammation of the appendix and leads to intense pain throughout the abdomen. Like a bladder infection or ruptured cyst, this pain is often sudden and worsens with movement or without treatment. Appendicitis can happen in children and adults, so always be cautious if you or a loved one has sudden, sharp pelvic pain.

Urinary tract infections (UTI)

UTIs are a common infection of the urethra, bladder, or kidneys. They can cause painful and frequent urination, changes in urine appearance, and pelvic pain in women. Luckily, UTIs are easy to treat with antibiotics, so be sure to seek medical attention soon if you have any of these symptoms. 

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form inside the kidneys and become intensely painful when they pass through the urinary tract. While smaller kidney stones can sometimes be passed on their own, you will likely feel intense pain in the pelvis if a larger one starts to move. In this case, seek medical attention to avoid complications. 

When to See A Doctor

A medical professional should treat pelvic pain that is sudden, severe, or coupled with other side effects such as bleeding. You never want to wait too long with severe pelvic pain, as failure to treat symptoms early on can cause more issues down the line. 

A doctor should also check chronic pelvic pain, especially for women. Women are diagnosed with UTIs, fibromyalgia, and reproductive problems much more often than men, and these issues can cause long-term damage if not treated. 

For more information on pelvic pain or to receive a diagnosis for chronic issues, contact your local PPOA today.

/by

The Five Most Common Causes of Hip Pain

,

Hip pain is one of the chronic pain conditions that can make you feel as if you’re aging. While hip replacements and hip problems are common after retirement, they should not be a reason to slow you down or limit your activity. Most causes of hip pain are easily treatable if you go to a pain specialist. 

Below are the five most common causes of hip pain and how you can prevent or treat them. 

Arthritis

There are a variety of arthritis conditions that affect the hip joints, but they all cause pain, stiffness, and mobility issues if they become advanced. Like most arthritis conditions, treatments include physical therapy, injections and medications, and occasionally surgical intervention if other treatments are not manageable. PPOA offers a variety of treatment options as arthritis specialists and can help you avoid long-term reliance on pain medication. 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that causes the bones to become fragile and brittle due to aging. Osteoporosis can become so severe that even bending over or a minor fall can cause fractures, leading to strict limitations on lifestyle. Osteoporosis commonly leads to hip fractures and should be treated by a physician to avoid serious complications. 

Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves occur when a bone, tendon, or muscle puts pressure on a nerve, causing pain, tingling, and loss of mobility in the joint. Pinched nerves are a common cause of hip pain and make it very difficult to walk or move without shooting pain. Pinched nerves can be treated surgically for long-lasting relief, so if you suspect you may have one, contact your local PPOA clinic to receive a diagnosis. 

Sprains and Other Injuries

Hips, like any other joint, can sprain or overextend, causing ongoing pain. This can happen during exercise, during a fall, or simply due to overuse. Sprains are a common cause of hip pain in younger adults and should be checked out to ensure they heal properly. 

Tendinitis

Tendinitis, like arthritis, is an inflammatory disease that affects the tendons that keep the bones together and in place. Tendinitis causes similar symptoms to arthritis, including tingling, numbness, pain, and swelling in certain areas. There are a variety of treatments for tendinitis ranging from OTC pain medication to surgical intervention. Talk to your PPOA physician to determine which treatment option is best for you. 

PPOA takes hip pain very seriously, significantly if symptoms worsen. Talk to your local clinic today to learn more about your options and how PPOA can help you. 

/by

Sudden back pain? Here’s what to do…

Your back is the center of your entire body, both physically and systematically. It works hard all day to keep you upright, aligned, and able to walk and move without trouble. The spine is also an essential part of the nervous system. If you have a spinal injury, you risk nerve damage that can cause tingling, numbness, and even paralysis in severe cases. When your back gets injured, your entire body suffers. 

Because our backs work so hard, it is common for them to become sore or injured throughout our lifetimes. Whether you picked something up the wrong way or fell on your back and are now experiencing pain, you need to address the issue immediately to avoid long-term injury. 

If you feel a sudden pain in your back from overexertion or a fall, here’s what you need to do:

Step one: Use ice-heat therapy 

A back injury is often caused by overexertion of the muscles, which causes inflammation. The rotation of ice and heat can loosen these muscles and help them heal independently. To begin this at-home treatment, use ice on the sore muscles for the first 72 hours, then alternate between heat and ice packs for 15 minutes a day until the pain subsides. 

Step two: Support your back while sitting and sleeping

During the first few days after the injury, you will likely feel constant aches and pains in the back. Use a lumbar pillow or a rolled-up towel while sitting and sleeping to support the healing muscles. This can allow you to relax during the day, which will help with the healing process better. 

Step three: Know when to rest and when to stretch

Like most injuries, you want to rest your back after pulling or straining it to let the muscles recover. However, too much resting can worsen the pain and stiffness over time. Be sure to get up and walk throughout the day and gently stretch your back (as long as you have no pain when doing so). But, stay away from sports, heavy lifting, or other physically demanding activities that can worsen the back injury. 

Step 4: See your doctor if the pain lingers or worsens after two weeks

Back pain often resolves itself with rest, ice, heat, and support. However, some injuries can cause permanent issues with the muscles or discs of the spine and will require medical intervention at some point. If your back pain gets worse or does not go away after two weeks, contact your physician immediately for help. The longer you wait for diagnosis, the more risk you put yourself in for serious back problems later in life. 

PPOA specializes in back pain treatment, including surgical interventions, physical therapy, and combination treatments to ensure long-term recovery at an affordable cost. If you are struggling with ongoing back pain and have no idea where to turn, call us today for a consultation. We want to help you regain your quality of life through holistic pain treatment and prevention. 

/by