How To Manage And Deal With Back Pain

Everybody wants a pain-free life. However, there are cases when people suffer from pain, especially back pain. Back pain is intrusive and keeps you from doing your work normally and comfortably. Back pain takes the joy out of life, and, in worst cases, people are not able to do any of their tasks at all because of the severe pain they are experiencing.

Although back pain may feel like a serious ailment, you can adjust your lifestyle and your habits to make the discomfort less intrusive. There are some home remedies that can help alleviate the pain. Normally, these home remedies and adjustments in lifestyle can keep you from undergoing full-blown surgery. This is a good thing because it means that you can cure your back pain anytime and anywhere you want.

 

The following are the methods on how to manage back pain:

1. Keep Moving

When you are in pain, you would naturally just want to rest and relax. However, this isn’t an entirely good thing; you have to keep moving despite the pain that you are feeling. Do not overdo your movements, though, and just perform movements that will not strain your back too much. Inactivity, such as bed rest, may prolong the healing process. The reason for this is that inactivity causes the muscles to be less flexible, tighter, and also weaker, thus causing you more pain in the end.

 

2. Find A Comfortable Position

When you have back pain, you may have trouble with certain positions. It is important to experiment with different positions to find one that will give you the most comfort and ease.

A comfortable position is especially important when you are lying down to sleep. Some people will find that they have to use pillows to bolster their back and limbs. A good position that people usually find comfort in is lying on their back with a pillow underneath their knees to keep the spine in a neutral position. Depending on your particular case, you will have to experiment on different positions to find the solution that works for you.

Also, it would help a lot if you use ergonomic furniture that will conform to your movements and the shape of your body.

 

3. Cold And Hot Treatment

Applying either heat or ice to the affected area may help alleviate the pain. In most cases, ice can lessen the pain, while heat can loosen tight muscles. Heat and ice should be applied to the affected area every 15 minutes for an hour.

When applying ice, you can use an ice pack to the affected area. When incorporating heat, you can use a heating pad or a hot bottle of water. You can use a towel as a barrier between the skin and the heating or cold device to keep the skin from being irritated and the nerves from being damaged.

 

4. Alternative Treatments

Alternative treatments may also help in alleviating back pain. These alternative methods have been widely used and have proven efficacy. One such method is acupuncture, which makes use of needles to stimulate muscles and nerves.

Other alternative methods are biofeedback and electrical nerve stimulation. Although these options do not require surgery, they do require a professional, such as Walker Spine and Sports Specialists, to help guide you through the process and to ensure positive results.

 

5. Pharmacologic Treatments

Drug treatments are probably the fastest and easiest way to alleviate back pain. There are drugs that promote anti-inflammation and induce muscle relaxation, so there will be less pressure on the back. However, it should be noted that many of these drugs have unwanted side effects after prolonged use. Long-term use may result in kidney and liver damage.

Only use these drugs after a thorough consultation with your physician and be sure to explore other therapies and treatments along with the drug treatments, so you don’t have to depend entirely on drugs.

 

6. Be Mindful Of Good Posture

Always be conscious of your posture. Poor posture leads to back pain, so you should always make sure that your spine is straight, and your head is aligned. It will also help if you do not carry a bag with you as you walk. Sometimes, carrying a bag can affect your posture because the added weight can send your balance off-kilter. You should only carry a few dollars and some identification cards in your pockets rather than bringing a full purse.

 

Final Thoughts

Back pain can be debilitating, but you do not have to be a victim of it. There are plenty of ways to manage back pain so you can bring back comfort into your life. You just need to make a few changes in your habits and lifestyle to be able to manage it. Not all types of back pain have to end up in surgery. Alternative remedies and home remedies can both alleviate back pain and make sure that it won’t visit you again.