The Back Pain Support Center

Every person is unique, but when you face a challenge like back pain, you are never alone.  Countless men, women, and even some children have faced exactly the same diagnosis and have survived and thrived.  The following guide is designed to help you navigate your journey with the best information and resources that helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge. 

TSC has scoured the Web to assemble links to the very best back pain resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges you're facing right now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this back pain guide even more helpful to survivors like you.  

JUST FOUND OUT 

Survivors Say: Best Resources for Information on Back Pain

• MedlinePlus: Back Pain
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Back Pain
• Mayoclinic.com: Back Pain
• WebMD.com: Back Pain

The Big Picture

Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that makes it hard to move. It can start quickly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or it can get worse slowly.The most common form of back pain is lower back pain, but many people suffer from thoracic, or upper back pain, too.

Spine Health: Understanding Your Spine 

Signs and Symptoms

• WebMD.com: Understanding Back Pain Symptoms
• North American Spine Society: Back Pain Warning Signs
  

Your Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common health problems there is -- the vast majority of us will experience it at some point in our lives. But as with any other type of health crisis, your experience of back pain is unique to you. Talk to those close to you now to share what you're going through, as you work with your health-care providers to find treatment options that work and make changes in your life that will help you manage your pain and get on the road to better health:

The Cleveland Clinic: Psychological Aspects of Coping with Back Pain

Myths About Back Pain

• "You should always rest if you have back pain."
• "Back pain is caused by heavy lifting."
• "Nothing can be done about back pain."
  

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• North American Spine Society: Common Surgical Procedures
• WebMD.com: Low Back Pain - Treatment Overview
• National Pain Foundation: My Pain - Back & Neck General Information
• American Chiropractors Organization

Types of Treatment

Medications  

You may be prescribed drugs -- including NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), narcotics, anti-inflammatory steroids, and/or anti-convulsant or tranquilizing medication -- to manage your pain:    

National Pain Foundation: My Treatment - Medications

Surgery

Sometimes, surgery is required to provide lasting relief from back pain:

• North American Spine Society: Common Surgical Procedures
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgerons: All About Back Surgery

Possible Treatment Side Effects

All drugs come with the risk of side effects, and surgery brings the chance of complications. Be sure you talk through your options, and possible side effects, with your health-care team.

Holistic & Home Treatments

There's a lot you can do at home, and without drugs, to keep your back pain-free, including working with a physical therapist and building up your core (abdominals and back) strength:

• North American Spine Society: Prevent Back Pain
• WebMD.com: Low Back Pain - Home Treatment
• National Pain Foundation: Back Pain - Physical Therapy
• National Pain Foundation: Back Pain - Complementary Medicine

Creating a Support Circle

• Set up your TSC survivor profile.
• Join support groups of other survivors or start your own.
• Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or in the TSC forums.
  

Insurance & Work Matters

• Mayoclinic.com: Back Pain at Work
• Backpain Blog: You're Hurting - Does Your Insurance Care?

Health-care Providers Who Can Help

These specialists can help you with your back pain:

• Orthopedic Surgeon
• Neurologist
• Chiropractor
• Physical Therapist
  

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Find an Orthopaedist
• National Pain Foundation: Pain Care Provider Directory
• American Chiropractic Association: Find a Doctor

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Though you may find the prospect of living with back pain a challenging one, know that you aren’t alone. Take some time now to talk to those closest to you about your journey so far and what more you could do to ease any discomfort or worry as you learn to deal with, and ease, your back pain. Talking to someone who's been where you are can really help, as can reading books or stories by people who have been through a similar struggle.

Books Survivors Recommend

• 8 Steps to a Pain Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Foot (Remember When it Didn't Hurt) by Esther Gokhale and Susan Adams
• Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John E. Sarno
• Healing Back Pain Naturally: The Mind-Body Program Proven to Work by Art Brownstein

Communicating with Your Health-care Providers

It’s important for your doctors to understand exactly how you feel. Try tracking your symptoms and pain in a diary, so that you can better explain what you're experiencing. 

The average family practitioner is trained in general medicine, not orthopedics, so you may need to see a back specialist and/or a pain specialist, as well as a physical therapist, for a proper assessment of your condition and the best options for treating it.

Let your medical team know if worrisome symptoms return, and if your back pain is making it hard to function at home or work. Your health-care providers may be able to recommend devices that can make it easier for you to cope, such as long-handled sponges or "reachers" (so that you don’t have to bend down or reach up).

Dealing with Back Pain: Information for Co-Survivors

How You Can Help

Although millions of people suffer from back pain, and it is almost never life-threatening, remember that each individual's pain is very personal and they experience it in their own way. Offer help when they need it or ask for it, but try not to upset your loved one's daily routine.

What to Say    

• "I'm here to help you with whatever you need."
• "I'd be happy to discuss your treatment options with you."
• "You can get a handle on this."
  

What Not to Say

• "My back hurts sometimes too."
• "It's all in your head."
• "You look okay to me."

Things You Can Do for a Survivor Every Day

• Let them know you’re there for support if they need you.
• Let them know if you’ve read or heard of something useful in relieving back pain.
• Don’t minimize what they’re going through.

Recovery/Recurrence

You've reached a new stage in your journey with back pain - you've found a way to live with this condition and treat it so you are as healthy, pain-free, and strong as possible. Staying that way requires vigilance, and sticking to a lifestyle that encourages a healthy back, especially after surgery:

• Spine-health.com: Back Surgery Post-Op Recovery Tips
• AllAboutBackandNeckPain.com: Recovery
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Your Recovery At Home
  
• WebMD.com: Lower Back Pain - Prevention
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Low Back Pain Exercise Guide
  

In a few cases, the cause of your back pain may turn out to be a serious condition such as bone cancer or spinal stenosis (deterioration of the spinal canal) and your medical team may be be unable to end your pain, but will do their best to help you manage it. In this case, you will want to find resources for learning to live with chronic pain:

• American Chronic Pain Association
• National Pain Foundation
• MedicineNet.com: Living with Pain
• Web MD.com: Pain Management - Living with Chronic Pain
• Pain.About.com: Living with Chronic Pain