Back Pain | Treatment and Herbal Remedies for Back Muscle Pain

Back muscle pain is affecting the great majority of adults. It is the most common form of pain and its severity can vary depending on various factors. It is usually caused by either a muscle strain or a sprain. In most of the cases it doesn’t have serious medical consequences, but it is terribly disturbing and sometimes it can even signalize other health conditions. The muscle strain refers to the fat that somehow the muscle fibers were damaged, this producing pain. The sprain, on the other hand, occurs when the ligaments are being affected. There is over the counter medication for back muscle pain, but many people tend to avoid it, due to the side effects it might have. Those with recurring back muscle pain are not very thrilled about the perspective of taking pills for a prolonged period of time.

Back muscle pain can also be relieved with help of natural remedies. Massage, especially if it is done with Rum atone Gold oil, relaxes the muscles and eliminates the pain. This oil also has the capacity of stimulating the rebuild of cells, so the healing of an injury will come faster. Arnica oil mixed with calendula oil and St John’s Wort oil is highly effective in back muscle pain. Another remedy for topical use is capsaicin cream. Capsaicin is a natural extract from red or cayenne pepper and it is not yet clear how it succeeds in reducing the pain, but it certainly does. Some researchers state that capsaicin helps the body to release endorphins, substances that our body naturally produces for fighting pain.

Treatment for Back Pain:

1) Flyes, or modified Rows- Hold a pair of medium-sized hand-weights or dumbbells. Lean over, making your torso parallel with the floor. For a reverse flye, raise your arms up to the sides, keeping the elbows just slightly bent throughout the movement. Your goal is to squeeze the muscles between your shoulder blades.

2) Opposition Arm-Leg Raise- This simple floor exercise is to elongate the torso, lengthening your spine. This makes you feel taller. Kneel on a mat first. Raise your right arm and left leg at the same time. Focus on lengthening them as you lift them. Then do the same with the left arm and right leg. Notice that you are using the leg opposite the arm.

3) Rotational Stretches- To loosen up the muscles between your neck and lower back, you need to stretch with a gentle twist. Do these when you take a break from your desk at work, or when you stop for a rest while driving.

4) Cardio- How does this help the mid-back? Cardio, or aerobic exercise, improves blood-flow and loosens joints. It’s as simple as running an errand, or taking a brisk walk. Cardio is critical for all-over health, which carries over to back muscles.

Herbal Remedies for Back Pain:

In osteoarthritis cartilage damage allows the bones of the joint to rub each other which causes severe joint pain during the movement, this damage to the joint changes the joint configuration for worst and muscles attached to the joints get swollen and painful to further aggravate the pain. In rheumatoid arthritis the tissues of muscles are attacked by the immune system of the body which can make them painful, swollen and weak. Such muscles are unable to move the joints and cause pain. Use of herbs which are helpful in relieving pain and inflammation along with massages and exercises can alleviate the pain. Herbs like Ashwagandha, nettle leaf, devil’s claw and boswellia have been used since ages for pain relief in joint and muscles due to arthritis.

Reasons for gout arthritis is deposition of urate crystals in the tissues, tendons, muscles and ligaments which later cause infection in the synovial fluid to promote problems in the mobility of the joints. Tissues of the muscles get weak and prone to infection after deposition of urate crystals which come with blood. Tendonitis is a disease related to tendons which makes tendons swell. These swelled tendons can exert extra pressure on the muscles to promote joint pain and inflammation. Weakening of muscles due to any other infection, disease or disorder not directly linked with joint can also promote joint pain. Weak muscles get exhausted with minimum physical activity and cause joint pain, such pains can subside by treating the bigger problem. Such problems are hyper and hypothyroidism, diabetes, bursitis, fibromyalgia etc.

Know about more Back Pain Massage Oil

Any injury or trauma which has damaged a part of musculoskeletal system like nerve damage or multiple fractures can also initiate pain in muscles or joint. With the initial symptoms of swollen joints it shall be treated and if general treatments like massages and pain killing herbs and ointment are not working medical opinion shall be taken. Light exercises like yoga, aerobics and exercises in water pool helps a lot in pain relief and reduction of inflammation. These also increase endurance of joints and muscles which augurs well for smooth and pain free movement. Strenuous exercises shall be avoided during inflammation.

Muscular Pain And Muscle Strains: Treatment For The Pain

Finding the best way to get muscular pain relief starts with figuring out the pain cause. That means determining exactly which muscle (or group of muscles) is causing your pain and how it occurred.

It may not always be obvious. Muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, several kinds of arthritis, sciatic nerve damage, nerve pain etc. – any of these conditions can feel like musclular pain. So until you have an accurate diagnosis, you can only guess how to get muscle pain relief.

Here are some generally accepted muscular pain relief options that offer some promise once you know what your problem is.

Muscular pain usually results from one of two things:

* wear or damage as a result of overuse, inappropriate use, or repetitive motion, and
* injury resulting from participation in competitive athletics, accidents or some other form of trauma.

In either case, your health care provider is likely to suggest medications. Non-prescription muscular pain relievers would probably include one of the following.

Acetaminophen – The better known brand names for this pain reliever are Tylenol and Aspirin Free Excedrin. Acetaminophen relieves soreness and pain because it acts on the parts of the brain that process “pain messages” from elsewhere in the body.

NSAIDs – NSAID is an abbreviation for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One of the more commonly known names in this category is ibuprofen There are many well-known over-the-counter brands, including Motrin, Aleve and Orudis KT. You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a stronger form of NSAID if your pain is severe.

Topical corticosteroids – Better known brands include Cortaid and Cortizone. These also relieve pain from certain forms of arthritis in addition to relieving muscle discomfort. Usually, they can be found in creams, lotions or sprays that are placed directly on the skin. Some of the better known brands include Aspercreme, Ben-Gay, Icy Hot and Capzasin-P.

Once again, your medical professional may suggest a prescription muscle pain reliever if your degree of pain is severe enough.

Prescription corticosteroids are another option. They’re available in pill or injection form. Corticosteroids are especially helpful where there’s swelling, redness, and allergic reactions. These require some care though because they sometimes cause side effects, including mood changes, irregular sleep, headaches and stomach problems.

Muscles in need of strengthening and repair can often benefit from physical therapy and exercise. Physical therapists work with their patients on how to build muscle strength and improve range of motion. They can also give you tips about ergonomic devices that make everyday chores safer or easier for your muscles to perform. Examples light be ergonomic chairs or kitchen knives that work more efficiently and cause less pain when you use them.

Exercise can help can provide relief from muscular pain by strengthening your muscles and improving your range of motion, which reduces your risk of re-injury.

Many people love a massage – even if they don’t have muscular pain. There’s no doubt a massage improves circulation, soothes aching muscles and helps you relax.

Acupuncture has many advocates who are convinced of it’s benefit in relieving muscular pain. Even though no one has definitively determined why acupuncture is effective, there appears to be little doubt that it can benefit some people. Some doctors think the needles may trigger certain substances in the body that give you a sense of well-being and freedom from pain. Other doctors remain skeptical and believe the benefits are mainly psychological: if you convince yourself that it works, then it will work.

What are Muscle relaxants?

Muscle relaxants (also called skeletal muscle relaxants) are a diverse group of medicines that have the ability to relax or reduce tension in muscle. Some (such as baclofen, methocarbamol, Cyclobenzaprine, and tizanidine, ) work in the brain or spinal cord to block over-excited neuronal (nerve) pathways. Others (such as dantrolene and botulinum toxin) act directly on muscle. Cannabis extract is thought to have a dual effect.

Muscle relaxants treat two main conditions: spasticity (stiff, rigid muscles) caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and stroke; or muscle spasms which are typically temporary and associated with conditions such as tension headache, low back pain, or fibromyalgia.

Sometimes you get muscle pain from bad posture. Or you develop habitual movements (like an irregular gait) that cause your bones and muscles to work against each other. Chiropractors help you identify and correct problems. Chiropractors can also help those who have been born with an improper spinal alignment that can result in joint and muscular pain.

If your muscle pain is relatively minor, you can use some tried and true home remedies to get muscular pain relief.

Ice packs usually reduce swelling from a muscle injury or condition. You don’t need to use one of those commercial ice packs from your pharmacy – some ice cubes in a plastic bag is all you need. Even a big bag of frozen peas will do the trick. Your local pharmacy can undoubtedly supply you with a variety of braces, bandages and wraps that can be helpful.

But once again, it all begins with getting a proper diagnosis of the cause of your muscular pain in order to select the best relief option.