1. Staying “Square.”
So much of back pain is due to poor alignment as we go throughout our day, whether it involves putting on shoes, picking a pencil off the floor or getting into the car.It’s important to face your object “head-on” (or “back-on”), keeping yourself straight ahead before you bend your knees to pick up a pencil, grab something out of a cabinet or sit down in the car.
When you are twisted in any way and then bend or reach, you strain your back and increase the odds that you will injure yourself.
“Stay Square,” and you can help keep your back healthy and pain-free!
2. Nutritional Supplements
SAM-e (s-adenosylmethionine) has been studied extensively for arthritis pain and has been shown to be quite safe and well tolerated in studies lasting up to 2 years. SAM-e has been shown to be as effective as aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs at relieving pain from arthritis. The usual starting dose is 400 mg daily, and it is safe in amounts up to 1600 mg per day. Most of my patients don’t need to go beyond 800 mg daily. It is best taken on an empty stomach, but it’s ok to take with food if you need to. SAM-e is generally well-tolerated, but side effects may occur at higher doses. Common side effects include stomach upset, nervousness, and loss of appetite. It should be avoided if you are pregnant, or take medications for Parkinson’s disease, depression or anxiety, unless guided by your physician.
3. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Osteopathic manipulative medicine, OMM, is hands-on care. It involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. With OMM, Dr. Cremin applies a very gentle and calming approach to subtly realign the bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues to encourage the body’s innate healing response. Patients have described the treatments as similar to a gentle massage and generally find them relaxing. It is even safe during pregnancy.
Learn more about Osteopathy.
