Pain is a basic mechanism in life that helps the body identify that something is wrong or dangerous. Without pain, the body would be severely damaged without realizing it. Pain can become an inconvenience when it spirals out of control; chronic pain, for example, leaves many miserable and unable to enjoy life to its fullest extent even with traditional medical intervention. Around 80% of people report chronic pain in their lifetime (Holtzman & Beggs, 2013). People afflicted by chronic back pain turn to modern medicine for relief, but even these alternatives are not always 100% effective. However, what if chronic back pain could be managed by adding alternative therapies such as yoga to modern treatments? Yoga is an additional therapy that decreases chronic back pain by promoting movement and decreasing pain medication dependence (Lee, Crawford & Schoomaker, 2014). This could radically reduce the dependence on drugs for pain relief and lead to a movement where pain is managed with the help of both modern medicine and affordable alternative remedies. With this in mind, promoting alternative therapies, such as yoga, in collaboration with modern treatments provides a larger range of options with different efficiencies for those with chronic back pain.
Alternative Medicine Therapies Alternative remedies, sometimes known as complementary remedies, offer a wide variety of products and methods in improving well-being separate from contemporary medicinal practices. According to
“Many older persons (≥60 years of age) develop chronic illnesses that may be associated with persistent pain [1-4]. The inadequate treatment of persistent pain in older persons is associated with numerous adverse outcomes such as functional impairment, accidental falls (with or without injury), slow rehabilitation, decreased socialization, greater health care costs, and greater resource utilization. From 2010–2050, the US population of persons aged ≥65 years is projected to double. In the US, it is estimated that ∼100 million people have chronic pain. In comparison, current estimates of Americans affected with other common diseases are 29.1 million and 14 million for diabetes mellitus and cancer, respectively. However, some treatments
In the United States, pain is the most common reason for patients to seek medical attention. According to an Institute of Medicine report in 2011, at least 116 million people in the United States suffer from acute and chronic pain every year, including up to 80% of the elderly population, affecting more American adults than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer combined.1 The national annual economic cost associated with chronic pain is estimated to be $560-635 billion (or $2000 for each American), spent on medical treatment ($260-300b) and in lost productivity ($297-336b). In 2008, 14% of all federal Medicare expenditures are spent on pain management. Chronic pain is often associated with other co-morbidities such as
Yoga for Back Pain – Getting Started Guide – About Health… – Yoga for back pain is a mind body approach for increasing flexibility, … and for better or worse, they make their mark on the amount of back pain you have. More »
Pain is one of the most recurrent nursing diagnosis and the most common problem for which patients in the clinical setting seek the most help. In a common perspective, pain can refer to distressful, unpleasant, and a painful feeling. Pain is a critical problem in the health care system and it affects more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Chronic pain can begin with an injury or a problem such as a problem in the lower back. Also, it can be related to headaches, back pain, joint pain, nerve pain, or other local symptoms. There are millions of people who suffer from chronic pain every year which effects the emotional and financial stability of the patient and their families.
Persistent and costly to treat, chronic low back pain is an important public health issue, with the most common Complementary and Alternative Medical treatment being yoga (Khan et al., 2016). In the randomized control trial by Sherman et al. (2011), the researchers studied stretching and yoga as an affordable and universal treatment for chronic low back pain. The trial had three intervention groups, a stretching group, yoga group, and self-care group, that were followed over 6 months, with a 3 month intervention and a separate 3 month follow up period, and interviews at the baseline, 6 weeks in (midway through the intervention), 12 weeks in (the end of the intervention), and at 26 weeks (3 months post intervention). Because
“Pain is, by definition, a stressful experiences. According to the book, pain reduces the ability to give attention to others matters, thereby isolation the sufferers and reducing their opportunities to reflect, interact, and accomplish” (Kastenbaum, 2012, p.155). Following this further, dealing with severe pain can affect every way of a person’s life. This uncomfortable experience will cause conflict in between what an individual wants to achieve and what his or her body will allows that person to do. A perfect example is someone who suffers from chronic back pain and has two children; this condition will prevent that person from spending time with his or her kids. This situation can cause frustration, and it will affect them emotionally.
Alternative medicines are a healing practice that are not in the guidelines for conventional medicines. There are multiple alternative medicines, such as herbalism, reiki holistic therapy, and aromatherapy. Herbalism is a practice that uses plants and plant extracts. Reiki holistic therapy is a practice that is spiritual. Aromatherapy is the extracted rich-scented oils from a certain plant. The natural ingredients, the cost effective, and the effectiveness of the medicine and length it takes for the medicine to be effective is what makes alternative medicines a great source of medicine.
Another name that alternative medicine is known by is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and it is deemed to be beneficial in today’s society because it is affordable, easy to access, and able to treat
Approximately 80% of adults will be subjected to lower back pain (LBP) during their lifetime. Chronic lower back pain can be debilitating and can last 12 weeks or longer, even after treatment. There have been various management and treatment options, including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), studied to find the most effective intervention for lower back pain. A literature review was performed examining the efficacy of CAM for the treatment of LBP. Current evidence suggests that the use of CAM in conjunction with usual care may improve function and pain levels in patients experiencing LBP.
The attitude that doctors tend to prescribe a pill for “everything” has become overwhelming and prominent in mainstream medicine. Patients are looking for other ways to treat their disease or condition without having to take prescription medications or use more holistic methods for their care. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) allows people to try different options with their health care plan. “Complementary and Alternative Medicine refers to a series of medical and health care practices and products that are not an integral part of conventional medicine due to insufficient proof of their safety and effectiveness” (Su & Li, 2011). CAM has been widely described as using treatments with conventional medicine and/or in place of conventional medicine. While there are many different types of CAM, some treatments are well known and used in the United States. Research has shown that “CAM has increasingly been accepted in the United States and all over the world” (Frass, 2012). Some of those treatments include acupuncture, use of a chiropractor, and herbal supplements. People are increasingly turning to CAM therapies because it will be shown that some CAMs are effective. However, people are not aware of the potential side effects because research is not readily available. People must keep in mind that there are potential risks involved with using any type of CAM. Those risks can include worsening of the condition or injury. In addition, recommendations for using CAM will
A large population of individuals experience chronic pain and it often affects every aspect of their existence.
As we continue to understand the important and vital role that yoga practice has will hopefully continue to emerge in Western culture. As indicated from research, yoga plays a significant role in the reduction of stress management and reduction of risk factors in chronic disease. In comparison to traditional forms of medicine, yoga can be an integral part as a holistic alternative.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) had risen considerably in the past decades. The use of CAM is widespread. Many individual countries have used the term of CAM definitions approach when discussing the practices and products.The interest and use of CAM in healthcare systems are integrating various methods with origins outside of mainstream medicine for treatment and health promotion. Different countries have view and used CAM within their regulations.
Complementary medicine is one that is “non-mainstream”, but can be “used together with conventional medicine” (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016). On the other hand, alternative medicine, also non-mainstream, is used instead “of conventional medicine” (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2016). There are many different approaches to using conventional and complementary and alternative medicine together, creating an integrative effect.
According to a recent survey, more than twenty millions Americans indulge in yoga practices, making it one of most popular forms of exercise. Yoga revives and rejuvenates your health, but so do other exercises. So, where is the difference? Many health experts believe that our perceptions are biased about yoga. In fact, a controversial story that appeared in New York Times in 2012 suggested that some people got seriously injured and a few even died owing to the injuries caused due to the wrong practice of yoga. According to the world’s leading yoga researchers, the effects of yoga on our health are diverse. Yoga won’t hurt you if practiced properly. Yoga gives you relieve from lower back pain, improve strength and flexibility and reduce inflammation