To help viewers realize that soothing back pain can take multiple therapeutic approaches, Good Day LA consulted Top US Spine Surgeon, Dr. Hooman Melamed, for tips on what treatments may be worth pursuing and which ones patients may want to avoid.

Transcript:

An estimated 80% of Americans suffer with back pain. We've all seen the gadgets to help, but which ones really work? Some 80% of Americans have or will suffer from back pain sometime in their lives. That's just about everybody. So, the market is saturated with gadgets and holistic therapies that claim to provide some relief. Finding relief from debilitating back pain can be even more frustrating with so many so-called solutions on the market, from devices to creams. What actually works? We sought out an expert, Beverly Hills Orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed, who has your back literally. A lot of things, but the answers are simpler than you think, and you don't have to spend a lot of money on basic stuff.
Dr. Melamed is giving us a thumbs up or thumbs down on some popular products promising relief for your aching back. Dr. Melamed gives the first thumbs up to the back brace, but with a warning. He says don't use it for more than 3 days. It's okay to have a brace for 2 to 3 days to help you get out of bed, move around; it kind of helps you stay stable. But then you have to start allowing your own muscles to do the work, because otherwise you'll become dependent on that which is not good in the long term. You start losing muscle mass.
The doctor also gives a thumbs up to foam rollers. Basically, you can just get it and go straight, don't bend like that, but straight up and down roll on it against the wall or on the floor. He says it's beneficial to treat back spasms. The great thing about it is that you can adjust the pressure as you want, so you can push as hard as you want or as little as you want, and you feel the pressure. We asked him about this trendy massage tool. The nice thing about it is that you can dig in there however you want. I mean it's pretty good actually because you can really play around with it, like different areas, like you can reach in the back. But Dr. Melamed says if you don't want to spend the money, you can always do the same thing with a tennis ball.
When it comes to creams to relieve back pain, he tells us his patients use this natural homeopathic remedy. It's a great natural remedy when you have a sore back.
Finally, we asked Dr. Melamed about acupressure mats. He says, "I have never recommended this product". It's like this prickly, it is so sharp. I mean, you, Austin, try this, this is very prickly, so I don't even know how you can sleep on it or lie on it. They're intended to increase circulation and decrease pain. Instead of going to an acupuncturist, you kind of do your own acupuncture at home using this, like acupressure points are supposed to be. But I would not recommend that. I think a good acupuncturist would be the way to go, to see somebody who knows what they're doing.
Dr. Melamed says if you have any radiating or shooting pains or any numbness or weakness, seek professional help. Get an MRI, get treated. You'll see a spine surgeon, get evaluated properly to make sure there's nothing urgent going on about your condition, to make sure then you're on the right path to get treated.
And Dr. Melamed says the big part of any recovery is actually diet. He says to avoid inflammatory foods like pasta, milk, and cheese. To fight inflammation, he recommends salmon, which he says is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Dark leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli are also good. And he also gives a thumbs up to dark chocolate and red wine.
Injuries that can be more severe and last a much longer period of time. Or just pain in general could start from what shoes you're wearing, how you're walking. True, the shoes are a big factor, what you're lifting, your bags. I was injured pretty seriously once with my back, and my baseline changed. It's fine now, but it's never going to be the same as I had. And once you have a back injury and it goes away, are you more prone to get it again? I feel like it is. And for me, I always stretch a lot. I stretch a lot before any kind of workout or strenuous activity, which seems to help too.