Most Americans will suffer with back pain at some point in their lives. For some the pain is minor and short lived; for others it is debilitating and chronic.
Theories about back pain are numerous even within the established medical community, let alone the burgeoning world of alternative medicine. Despite the wonders of modern medical science, the root cause of a back problem is difficult to pinpoint in most cases, and a sufferer may get conflicting diagnoses.
The treatments that are recommended to alleviate the pain often cannot guarantee relief, and they may be invasive and involve substantial risks. For obvious reasons, relying on pain medications is also risky.
In the case of my own back problems, which began in my teens, I chose to forgo recommended disk surgery and have never regretted that decision.
While I do experience pain in the lower back and sacrum occasionally, most of the time the pain is kept in check with a holistic approach to wellness.
By learning from my own body, working with other pain sufferers, and studying many approaches, I’ve come to believe that there are four keys to regaining or maintaining a healthy, pain-free back: manage stress and think positively, maintain a healthy weight, practice good posture and stretch and strengthen your body.
Let me put it another way. If you are overweight, over-stressed and very sedentary, for instance hunched over your desk all day, you are definitely setting yourself up for back problems.
It is very possible that if you take responsibility for your body and your lifestyle, you won’t resort to seeking out a doctor to save you.
I think that the emerging, rather controversial concept that emotions play a large role in chronic pain conditions is worth looking into. There is much, albeit mostly anecdotal, evidence giving credence to this theory. For more information on the theory, I recommend the book Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John E. Sarno.
And I can’t help but suggest a gentle yoga practice to anyone with back issues because it encompasses positive thinking, proper postural alignment and a comprehensive approach to strengthening and stretching.
But understand that yoga will not provide a quick fix. As I stated earlier, you must take responsibility for your lifestyle, and this means dedicating yourself to making real and lasting changes that you will embrace from now onward.
We like to believe that there is a fast, easy way to deal with our problems, but usually that’s not the case. Transforming your body and your life will take place one day at a time—one healthy decision at a time.
