Back and neck pain have been a part of my life from a very early age even as far back as my late teens. The pain has been very difficult to deal with at times as the back pain occasionally renders me almost completely incapacitated and the neck pain quite often results in excruciating, blinding headaches. Through the accumulated help of various medical doctors and chiropractors, I've learned some ways to help to deal with the pain and even to lessen the frequency and severity of pain. Ideally, as anyone who suffers with pain on a regular basis would agree, the goal is to eliminate pain altogether but that is not always possible.
Beginning in my early to mid twenties, I began regular visits to a chiropractor and experienced significant relief between appointments. Appointments during the following 12 to 14 years were not at set intervals but were on an as needed basis. The chiropractor that had been seeing me during that period of time practiced manipulation of the spine through means of "popping" the spine and by about age 38 my neck pain had become so severe and consistent that I could no longer tolerate having my neck "popped". At the urging of a friend, I went to visit a chiropractor that used pressure point manipulation techniques that have a similarity to acupuncture. This type of treatment has proven helpful and has allowed me to cope with the pain into my early 50's.
This is not to suggest that chiropractic treatments alone have provided relief, but rather that these treatments combined with other means of dealing with the pain have helped with the severity and frequency of pain. Back and neck exercises that involve stretching and strengthening techniques have been a great help and I've done these regularly for over 17 years. Anyone with access to the internet can do a search for back and neck exercises to learn more about the different exercises that are helpful in this area. At about age 40, an orthopedic doctor diagnosed me with Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and prescribed physical therapy. The therapist taught me some new exercises that have also been a help in my daily struggle to deal with pain. Learning the benefits of using heat and ice as needed has also provided an additional way to help deal with the pain. Another form of therapy that has proven beneficial is the use of an inversion table. The one that I have is made by Teeter Hang Ups and has given a great deal of relief through the decompression of the spine that it provides. Fortunately, surgery has not been recommended to this point and that is a step that is best avoided as long as possible because it seems so many have surgeries that do not provide relief and often increase pain rather than relieve it.
As suggested by the title, the purpose of this publication is very simply to try to help people in everyday life deal with health and fitness issues as they pertain to folks just trying to stay healthy enough to work and do the things they enjoy. It is not nor is it meant to be professional advice – that will be left to doctors, chiropractors and therapists. The purpose is simply to share some ideas that have worked to help me cope with some physical issues and hopefully they will help others as well. My search for relief from pain as a result of DJD will not end as long as the pain exists and other practical ideas for dealing with or eliminating pain caused by this disease would be welcomed. As with many things, what works for one may not work as well for another. May we all discover the road to better health and fitness!
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