Mailbag: Beat Back Pain WITHOUT Risky Drugs
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 19, 2023
“I’m always taking ibuprofen for lower back pain. Is there something else for relief?”
– Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Ibuprofen is relatively safe for short periods (a week or so), but then some serious side effects can kick in.
Because despite being an over-the-counter medication, it can irritate the stomach, harm the kidneys, raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke, worsen asthma, trigger bleeding, and cause problems during pregnancy.
Plus, ibuprofen interferes with some medications. So, people with liver disease or bleeding problems should avoid it.
The highest dosage you should take of ibuprofen is 1200 mg daily.
But there are FAR SAFER options that could ease your back pain without all the risks.
- Stretching: Our bodies become tighter as we age, and we need to stretch to stay flexible. Find a stretching routine you can do every day (even when you’re NOT in pain). Stretching alone can fix most back-pain problems if you make a habit of it.
- Moving: Simply moving your body more brings new blood, oxygen, and nutrients to problem areas and sweeps away waste. I rarely recommend anything more than gentle walking or swimming for people with back pain.
- Anti-inflammatories: With back pain it’s vital to calm down inflammation. The best natural tools to do this are omega-3 fish oil and the herbs curcumin and Boswellia.
- Nutritional support: Magnesium naturally relaxes muscles and can help loosen up those involved in back pain. And research shows folks with lower back pain are often low in vitamin D. Boosting your D levels could ease the pain because of the vitamin’s natural anti-inflammatory and neuromodulating effects.
- Heat therapy: Applying a heating pad or taking a warm bath can help relax tight muscles, increase blood flow, and ease back pain. Use a heating pad on a low setting for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
- Cold therapy: Ice packs, cold compresses, or even a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel can help reduce inflammation and ease back pain. Use for 10–15 minutes at a time.
- Get Help: Chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists can provide back pain relief. And in some cases, they may even cure it. Find someone you trust and work with them.
All too often folks think there are only two choices with back pain: taking risky medications or suffering.
But that’s simply NOT the case. If you’re struggling with back pain go ahead and give these safer pain-relieving alternatives a try.
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? CLICK HERE to submit your question and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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