Table of Contents
Introduction
Back pain is a common ailment. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, the majority of these people don’t get relief from their symptoms until weeks or even months after the onset of back pain. There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of developing back pain, but one of the most important is to learn how to manage it when it does strike. Here are some tips for living with back pain:
Exercise
In the past, I have been hesitant to recommend certain exercises because of the misconception that back pain is caused by physical activity. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Many people with low-back pain find that exercise helps relieve their symptoms and allows them to get back in shape.
What kind of exercise should you do?
There are many types of activities that can help manage your back pain and prevent further injury. Examples include: swimming (water supports your body weight), cycling (seated or standing), walking, yoga/Pilates workouts and light weights at the gym (5 pound maximum). This type of movement helps build strength in your core muscles which will improve posture over time while also increasing flexibility throughout your spine without putting stress on specific joints like those found within our backsides!
Reduce Stress
You may be surprised to learn that stress is a common cause of back pain. Stress can cause your muscles to tighten up and become stiff, which can make you more prone to injury and make the pain worse in the long run. Stress can also lead you to move in ways that are bad for your body, such as bending over at the waist or hunching forward.
And don’t forget this: when we’re stressed out, it’s all too easy to neglect our daily self-care routines like stretching and exercising. And when we’re not taking care of ourselves properly, it can worsen our symptoms!
Rest
- Rest is one of the best ways to manage your pain.
- Resting means taking a break from physical activity, and not just resting while you are in bed or on the couch. A good rule of thumb is to rest as much as possible, but still stay active! Try going for walks or doing household chores (like vacuuming) instead of sitting down all day long.
- Resting also helps your back heal faster by reducing inflammation and muscle spasms.
Get A Massage
Getting a massage is one of the best ways to manage back pain. Massage is all about reducing muscle tension, increasing blood flow and improving your posture.
Massage can help relieve pain and relax muscles. This helps reduce stress on the spine which in turn helps you sleep better at night. Massage also helps improve range of motion which can be limited by tight muscles or even scar tissue from an injury.
Massages are great for reducing swelling in injured areas, helping ease spasms or cramping that occurs when there has been too much strain put on the body, such as when moving into a new house after being out of work for several months due to injury or illness (like Lyme). Massages can also help release endorphins which will make you feel good after each session!
Get adjusted by a chiropractor.
- Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to treat back pain.
- Chiropractors are trained to treat back pain.
- Chiropractors can provide non-invasive treatment.
- Chiropractors can provide a treatment plan that will help you feel better and get your life back on track!
Medication.
You may take over-the-counter painkillers, anti-inflammatories or steroids. These can cause side effects such as constipation, nausea and vomiting.
You may be offered another kind of medication called a topical cream. This is put on the skin to treat back pain where it hurts. It can help ease pain and stiffness without affecting your body like oral medicines do (see below).
It is important to get back pain checked out.
If you are experiencing back pain, it is important to get it checked out. We don’t mean that in a “do as we say, not as we do” kind of way. We mean that because of how stubborn back pain can be and how much it can hinder your life and wellbeing, you should seek medical attention sooner rather than later.
While some pains may simply be part of life and unavoidable (as we mentioned in our previous point), others may indicate something more serious – such as an underlying disease or disorder like arthritis or osteoporosis – which requires medical attention in order to receive treatment. If this is the case for you, then don’t wait until tomorrow or even this week; go see your doctor immediately!
Keep in mind that doctors usually have appointments booked weeks in advance so try not to let time interfere with getting help for your condition
Conclusion
While it’s important to remember that everyone’s back pain is unique and there is no one solution that works for everyone, in this article we’ve tried to provide some tips on how you can manage your back pain. You should always consult your doctor before starting any new treatment plan or medicine though!