Wellness Program addresses back pain Chronic Low Back Pain If you have chronic low back pain, you know what a powerful effect it can have. It can impact your work, your home life, and your relationships. The most important thing to know is that you can be active and productive when you have chronic low back pain. In fact, it may actually be better for you to be active. What causes chronic low back pain? Chronic low back pain is different from many other medical conditions, because most of the time doctors can’t be certain exactly what’s causing it. Many people never find out the reason for the pain. But, not knowing the cause of your back pain does not have to stop your recovery. Once your doctor rules out serious illnesses or conditions where activity could hurt your back, you can focus on managing your pain. Is there a cure? Chronic low back pain can be managed so that it will not take over your life, but it may not go away completely. Many people spend a lot of their time and energy trying to find a “cure,” and there are many unproven treatments for chronic low back pain. Rather than looking for something to fix the pain, it may be more helpful to focus your energy on managing it. What can I do to manage my pain? Realizing that you play an important role in controlling your pain is essential. Working with your doctor to create a pain management plan can make a big difference. Setting a goal —- such as returning to work or walking for 10 minutes —- can be an important first step. Then, you can work with your doctor to determine how to deal with your pain so that you can reach your goal. Some important steps toward achieving your goal are: Stay active: Rest is a natural reaction to pain, but limiting your activity too much is usually not good for back pain. Manage stress: Finding ways to manage stress and depression can help you feel better physically and emotionally. Get support: Having support from friends and family can help you create a successful recovery plan and stick to it. Use treatments wisely: Knowing how well the treatments may or may not work and understanding their risks and benefits will help you choose treatments wisely. For more information You can learn more about how to work with your doctor to manage your chronic low back pain by calling MyHealthConnection at 1-800-658-2750. Health Coaches are specially trained nurses, dietitians, and respiratory therapists and can help you: • Understand more about chronic low back pain • Learn about the risks and benefits of different treatment options • Prepare for your doctor’s appointment • Determine if one of our complimentary videos about back pain may help you. You can also learn more by logging in to www.thedialogcenter.com/bcbsnd and choosing "Health Information.” From there, select: • Health Crossroads and choose “Back Pain.” • Healthwise® Knowledgebase and use the search term "Low Back Pain." -- Blue Cross, Blue Shield & Amanda Eickhoff, Wellness Program Assistant, Wellness Center, amandaeickhoff@mail.und.nodak.edu, 777-2719