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Back pain can be a serious problem. Chronic or acute back pain is both extremely distressful and can be seriously debilitating. This article is going to explore the self help methods and treatments that you can use to achieve chronic back pain relief.

You may be comforted to know that most chronic back pain disorders have an excellent prognosis and are often relieved and cured within a short period of time. There are a number of simple things that you can try initially which may be of help. They include where possible, using over the counter painkiller and anti-inflammatory medications and temporary treatment with muscle relaxants. The application of cold compresses, for example a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth and then applied to the appropriate area, followed by a warm compress, such as a hot water bottle, or even a hot shower is helpful to relax the back and help it heal itself.

Doing gentle exercise, such as swimming, walking and muscle stretches can be beneficial for chronic back pain relief. It is important that you should try not to let the pain divert you form performing your normal activities, as regular movement can help to stop the problem from immobilizing you. Regular light exercise is always a good idea, even under normal circumstances, but in the case of chronic back pain, it can substantially reduce the healing time.

Keeping active is an excellent way of treating chronic back pain. It exercises the affected area and helps to keep you mobile, Inactivity is to be avoided as it allows the painful area the chance to “seize up”, and may prolong or worsen the problem. However in the case of continued chronic back pain, you should consult your doctor. Paracetomol is an effective pain killer and there is evidence to suggest that its use is effective in cases of long tern chronic back pain.

Drugs such Ibuprofen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, are proven to reduce inflammation and pain. They should only be used for short periods however. Longer term use could cause stomach ulcers to form or encourage some other forms of stomach illness. COX 2 inflammatory inhibitors have mostly been withdrawn from the market because of concerns over reported links with cardiac disease. If you are considering going down this route, it is important that you consult with your doctor first. Muscle relaxants that can be bought over the drug store counter also have a god record of success, but their use should be limited and not allowed to become the norm for a recurring problem. It is the cause, not the effect that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

The adoption of specifically created therapies (similar to the Alexander technique) are interesting developments and have been known to have a degree of success. The major emphasis is on using your muscles and joints in the correct way which can both help to prevent back pain from developing, or can help in dealing with chronic back pain if it already exists. The ancient art of acupuncture is also know to provide chronic back pain relief. There are many thousands of back pain sufferers who swear by this method of treatment and claim to have been cured.

Collagen plays as large role in the health of spinal discs and regular daily doses of up to 2500g of vitamin C, which supports collagen growth, can provide back pain relief. It is often recommended that taking daily doses of Glucosamine Sulphate may facilitate the repair of chronic back pain causes.