Back injuries are the worst. They limit your movement, make it hard to go about your day, and, if the pain doesn’t stop, can take over every part of your life. You never really notice how important your spine is until it’s injured, and to hurt it in an activity that should have been fun is even more frustrating.

The worst part is that not every back injury can be repaired. If there’s been a break, not even stem cell treatments can fix it. That being said, there are still options. If you’ve broken your back, you can use different treatments to help alleviate the pain and pressure. You can work on regaining flexibility and strength. If you still have full movement, you can do a lot towards reclaiming your life.

Regardless of whether your injury is permanent or it could technically heal on its own, you’ll want to use these top five treatments to speed up and improve your chances.

Kickstart the Healing Process with Stem Cell Therapy 

Stem cell therapy is likely the most innovative and important treatment of the 21st century. Currently, it is still in development, but its applications for the future are massive. From helping heal wounds to even reversing things like aging, stem cell research is at the heart of it all. With back injuries, for example, bioxcellerator.com claims that stem cell therapy can help heal those sensitive and delicate nerves in the spinal cord to help you regain sensory and motor functions you might never have had again. It can also help reduce inflammation or give you back control over your bladder.

Restore Your Function and Mobility with Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a cornerstone of any back injury rehabilitation. A skilled physical therapist can assess your injury and needs and then build your very own tailored treatment plan that was made with your specific goals and recovery rate in mind. The goal is to help you regain as much core strength and flexibility as possible to give you a greater range of movement without pain. You’ll do this through a series of targeted exercises, stretching routines, and additional treatments like chiropractic or massage therapy.

Alleviate Pain to Reclaim Your Life

Managing back pain is crucial when dealing with a sports-related back injury. There are many pain management techniques that can help alleviate discomfort and improve your overall well-being. These techniques may include anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants. Don’t, however, rely solely on pain medication. You’ll also want to look into massage therapy, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), or even infrared therapy to diversify your pain management strategy.

Change Things Up To Prevent Further Injury

Adopting a few lifestyle changes is crucial for long-term back injury recovery success. If you don’t, you’ll likely re-injure yourself or make your current injury even worse. Good tips to help you get started include maintaining a healthy weight so there’s less strain on your back, upgrading your seating setup to an ergonomic one, maintaining proper posture, and committing to exercises that focus on strength and flexibility without the intensity, like water aerobics or yoga. It’s also important to prioritize rest and relaxation, so kick back and relax. Sometimes the very best thing that you can do for your body is to sleep.