Lower-Back Pain
Do to poor posture, some type of injury or any other cause like sleeping on a bad bed, approximately 84 percent of people experience lower-back pain at some point in their lives. If you’re dealing with acute pain, you should stretch and start moving to keep muscles flexible, though avoid strenuous activity. With the use of a heating pad, the paid should subside in a week. But those with chronic pain, it will never fully go away.
The alternative prescription for this is Osteopathic Manual Treatment or OMT, which is a hands-on form of therapy that is more like a spa-like rub down. A physician will use methods of healing liek stretching and kneading soft tissue and applying pressure where needed.
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Knee Osteoarthritis
This joint pain is caused by the lack of cartilage in the knee. As connective tissue in the knee wears down, the constant bone-to-bone contact can range from mild to severe pain. Currently, the primary way to manage this pain is through cortisone injections but too many may worsen the damage of the joints, which is why doctors limit the amount of injections someone can have per year.
The alternative prescription for this is acupuncture. A 2012 study found that acupuncture could actually be a replacement for knee surgery, providing relief from pain in a third of the patients.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a type of back pain that starts in the lower back and radiates south into the legs and feet. This affects about five percent of women and can vary from burning sensations to numbness and tingling. Being overweight, injury, a herniated disk and even sitting too long can cause this pain.
Alternative treatment for this is physical therapy. Prolonged inactivity can make sciatica worse. PT can help prevent further injury by strengthening the back muscles, improving flexibility and posture. A study showed that 79 percent of people who underwent physical therapy in addition to routine treatment and medication from a doctor reported a complete recovery.