If you are dealing with low back pain right now you're not alone.
About 80%of adults have it at sometime in their lives.
Low back pain can hit you as sharp or sudden pain
or as pain that is dull and constant
making it hard to move.
It can start with no warning
and it can gradually get worse over time.
You may be thinking
no problem I've got this.
I'm pretty tough when it comes to pain.
I'm sure it'll go away soon enough.
But how do you know when low back pain is serious enough to
call your doctor?
A good way to know is if you have any one of these symptoms
severe pain that doesn't get better when you rest
numbness or tingling in your lower back hips or legs
or if you have pain that occurs after an accident or injury.
Pain that comes on really fast is often called acute or
occasional pain lasting less than six weeks
but when you have chronic pain, it stays around for longer than three months.
Sure over-the-counter medications can help with the pain
but there are lots of other approaches you can take, too.
The first step is to understand what matters most to you in your life
because pain affects parts of life in different ways.
Then in partnership with your VA Healthcare team
you can come up with a complete plan that includes different therapies
to help you in those parts of your life.
That's why a comprehensive approach is always the best way
to effectively treat low back pain, especially when it's chronic pain.
When you first experience pain you can start at home
using hot or cold packs to give some pain relief in the short term
but this will not fix your back pain.
The best first treatment in your pain management plan
especially for acute or sudden low back pain
is often physical therapy.
You can also focus on other self-care activities
such as exercising
limiting alcohol
quitting smoking
joining a support group
eating healthy, reducing stress
and learning pain distraction techniques.
Your pain management plan may also include complementary therapies
depending on your preferences.
Maybe you want to improve your sleep
or learn some relaxation techniques.
Other complementary therapies include practicing meditation
and mindfulness to improve your mind's flexibility and
acceptance of how you can move with the pain
even if you have chronic pain.
Or practicing yoga and tai chi can help restore your body 's natural motion.
Getting acupuncture therapy may also work for you.
Learning how to do everyday activities at home without having pain
is another part of managing your pain.
This includes things like learning how to lift objects like laundry baskets
or tie your shoes without causing pain.
Also good bedding with comfortable pillows
wearing supportive footwear
and using assistive devices can help.
Now that you have an idea of the type of approach and therapies
that might help manage your low back pain
is it time to take the next step?
As an enrolled veteran ask your patient aligned care team or
PACT what pain management resources are available to you.
Your pact can connect you with physical therapy
acupuncture
biofeedback as well as pain specialists.
You may also have options for other whole health program and
services at your VA facility.
Whether you're experiencing low back pain now or in the future
Remember:
VA offers lots of tools and resources to help you manage your pain.
So you can get back to living your life to the fullest.