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Experts Talk About Chronic Back Pain and What Helps With The Pain

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It’s normal to have back pain occasionally, especially if you’re over 30 or have a physically challenging job standing or sitting. For many people, it goes away on its own. But if back pain lingers for months without cause, you may be experiencing the first signs of chronic back pain.

WHAT IS CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

“Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It can come and go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause,” according to Hopkins Medicine.

But chronic back pain is different for everyone, with different symptoms, different tolerance levels, and different reactions to medicine or therapy. Sometimes, the symptoms can be treated with multiple strategies, including using ketamine.

IS CHRONIC PAIN A BIG DEAL?

Yes, and its consequences shouldn’t be minimized or ignored. It not only affects millions of people worldwide and often fuels the need for employers to offer comprehensive medical management services, but the World Health Organization calls it one of humanity’s leading sources of disability. Chronic pain leaves its tire tracks on about 50 million American adults; of those, about 44 percent are men and 56 percent are women.

Chronic pain and its evil twin, chronic back pain, harm all age groups and income levels, resulting in stress for individuals, families, and America. How bad is the economic burden? Some reports say the U.S. loses about $600 million a year due to lost productivity.

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN

  • Lasts more than a few weeks
  • Is intense and doesn’t improve by resting
  • Works its way down the legs, particularly if the pain goes below the knee
  • Causes weakness, tingling or numbness in either or both legs
  • Is paired with unexplained weight loss
  • Burning sensations
  • Discomfort which feels like it’s stinging, squeezing, or shooting
  • Your back is constantly sore or stiff

Many of these symptoms may respond to store-bought pain relievers, therapy, and new treatments like ketamine infusion.

RISKS OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN

  • Advancing age results in wear and tear on the spine which results in disc degeneration or spinal stenosis, for example, producing back and neck pain. This is especially true if you’re over 30 compared to someone younger.
  • Certain spinal disorders may have a genetic component.
  • Any job with repetitive bending and lifting, or that requires many hours of standing without relief or positioned in a chair that doesn’t offer back support puts you at greater risk.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

If you have chronic back pain, you can expect to undergo many tests which may include:

  • Blood tests to check for evidence of cancer, inflammation, infection, and/or arthritis
  • Bone scans to discover and track a bone disorder, fracture, or infection
  • A Discography
  • Electrodiagnostic tests
  • Diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays
  • Myelograms

WHAT HELPS WITH CHRONIC BACK PAIN?

In some cases, a doctor will first recommend a store-bought pain reliever or an assistive device for a sore limb before suggesting other treatments. In the case of chronic back pain and diagnostic procedures with inconclusive test results, a healthcare provider could also offer:

  • Ketamine infusion therapy. Ketamine is thought to restore and reset connections between nerves throughout the body.
  • Analgesics and NSAIDS (aspirin or ibuprofen).
  • Anticonvulsants.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Alternative therapy like acupuncture.
  • Behavioral therapy.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Spinal mobilization and spinal manipulation.
  • Spinal injections.
  • Traction.
  • Chiropractic procedures.
  • Surgery.
  • Implanted nerve stimulators.
  • Rehabilitation programs.

SURGERY MIGHT BE AN OPTION IF …

Back pain is considered chronic when it lasts six months or longer and you don’t know what caused it originally. There are red flags to watch for, which may indicate the need for surgery:

  • New or increasing bowel/bladder issues
  • Weak limbs
  • Walking and equilibrium problems
  • Signs of faster (brisk) reflexes

CAN CHRONIC BACK PAIN EVER GO AWAY?

Each of us deals with pain differently, including chronic back pain. If a cause for your pain has been diagnosed and can be treated, there’s a chance the symptoms will disappear for good. However, remember the nature of the condition is such that it can strike anywhere, at any time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re experiencing back pain that’s become chronic – lasting for several months – and you don’t know what caused it, see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Chances are high the pain won’t go away on its own, and even if you can function with it, it could result in other problems down the road. Many of the symptoms can be relieved with therapy, pain medication, and newer innovations like ketamine infusion.

About the Author

Dr. Aimee Harris-Newon Psy.D., DABPS, C.HT. is a double board certified integrative and interventional psychologist, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and master success coach. She’s considered an expert in integrative health and believes in a holistic approach-treating the body and the mind. She leads a very successful integrative and functional health and wellness practice, serving clients locally and internationally. She and her multidisciplinary team focus on wellness, preventive care and coaching to help people live healthier, happier and more satisfying lives. What makes her truly unique and exceptional is her broad and deep skill set and her approach to health and wellness.

As the founder and director of Dr. Aimee and Associates, and now The Center for Integrative and Functional Health and Wellness, Dr. Aimee Harris-Newon and her team of experts don’t just treat symptoms, they solve health problems, create better outcomes and change lives. Dr. Aimee Harris-Newon also hosts the popular radio show, Mind Over Matters on AM 820, which airs every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. CST.

For more info visit https://www.thecifhw.com/

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

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Health

Her Fantasy Box Breaks the Silence and Stigma Surrounding Feminine Hygiene With Feminine Care Products

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Image sourced from Her Fantasy Box

Walking down the personal care section at your local pharmacy can feel like an interrogation. So many monotone bottles with clinical phrases line the aisles, and it feels like every other shopper is breathing down your neck. It’s no secret that women have special care needs for their bodies, so why do people pretend like it is? A new line of feminine hygiene products is seeking to break the silence. Meet Her Fantasy Box.

Feminine Care Products: The Search for Good Feminine Hygiene Is Over

A new age of feminine care products has begun across the internet. Her Fantasy Box has hit the online market as a top-performing brand in feminine hygiene. Getting its start as a TikTok sensation, Her Fantasy Box has dominated the market in just two years since its introduction. With its commitment to providing women with safe, natural, and stigma-free products, the wait for accessible feminine hygiene has ended.

An Online Movement Based Around Feminine Care Products

Her Fantasy Box launched in June 2022. In its first two years, its products have been delivered to customers with over $30 million in sales. Her Fantasy Box has reached women nationwide, filling the gap in feminine care needs. The brand has also gone viral on TikTok, becoming the #1 selling and top-rated hygiene brand on TikTok Shop, and its products are top sellers on Amazon.

Trusted Feminine Care Products for Her Health

Her Fantasy Box offers an entire line-up of safe, plant-based feminine products for women of every age. These products are gynecologist-approved for safety and address key concerns many women have, including:

A Stigma-Free Zone With Her Fantasy Box’s Feminine Care Products

Her Fantasy Box offers a stigma-free online solution to addressing these problems. Some of their most popular products, such as their Refresh Wash and Slippery Box supplements, demonstrate how the product line fulfills these needs in the feminine community. Their commitment to quality and effectiveness has earned the trust of thousands of women.

Image sourced from Her Fantasy Box

Founded From a Place of Understanding

Her Fantasy Box’s founder, Kay, came into the business with a unique public health background and eCommerce experience. After seeing a significant gap in the market for feminine hygiene, Kay used her combined expertise to carve out an online space for women to access hygiene products safely and with dignity. 

The journey wasn’t easy. She had to overcome previous disappointments in her other business ventures, as well as struggles with her personal health and pregnancy complications. 

Her Fantasy Box’s Mission

“Our mission is not just about selling products but about creating a movement that normalizes feminine hygiene and empowers women,” states Kay, founder of Her Fantasy Box. Her struggles with her health have inspired her to empower other women to take control of their health and well-being. 

Her Fantasy Meets the World

With its roaring online success, Her Fantasy Box now seeks to expand its presence to global markets. Its campaign for stigma-free and accessible feminine hygiene will soon be able to reach women across the world. With the consumer trust they have established, Her Fantasy Box is poised to lead the feminine hygiene industry for years to come.

Feminine Care Products From Her Fantasy Box: Take Control of Your Feminine Hygiene

Women’s bodies have needs, no matter what they say in the manosphere. You’re not alone if you want to regain control of your health and body. Join the community of women who have trusted Her Fantasy Box with their intimate care needs. The silence around feminine hygiene has ended; you can make some noise here. 

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