Whether you’re suffering from a bout of lower back pain due to arthritis, aging or sudden strain due to twisting or lifting something heavy, there are ways to relieve the discomfort. Consider treatments and lifestyle changes that will not only end your current suffering but also help you prevent its onset in the future. Keep in mind that this type of pain is something anyone can experience regardless of their age. In order to help alleviate the pain, we prepared a short article about dealing with lower back pain.
If you want to learn more about the things you can do to improve your situation, then keep on reading the short guide we prepared for you. If you are lucky enough, you might even get rid of the pain entirely. And with a few lifestyle changes to suit your bio-mechanical particularities, you might even manage to avoid this type of pain for the rest of your life!
Dealing With Lower Back Pain: A Quick Guide To Relief
DISCLAIMER: This article was not written by medical professionals. If you have considerable pain, you should consult with your doctor. The contents of this article refer to lifestyle changes a person can do in order to alleviate lower back pain or avoid triggering it in the future.
1. Make Yourself Comfortable
This type of pain comes suddenly. It’s either a result of a strain or physical activity or effort. The pain people feel can be described as sharp, localized pain, or pain that radiates down the legs and/or buttocks.
In order to help relieve lower back pain at home, stay off your feet to rest the area. In other words, make yourself comfortable. While it won’t treat the cause, your best bet right now is an anti-inflammatory over-the-counter drug. Consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen and using cold or heat to relieve the discomfort. You can warm the area by wrapping yourself with a blanket or by using hot water balloons.
After a day or two in bed, you must resume moderate physical activity. Even though it might still be uncomfortable, you must move around. It will help with the healing. Consider easy activities such as walking or simple stretches to regain mobility.
2. Consult a Professional
If your back pain hasn’t improved with rest, spreads down to your legs or is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or bladder issues, for instance, consult a physician to rule out more serious causes than a simple strain. As we said in the beginning, this article was not written by a professional. Sometimes, back pain can be a symptom of something quite serious that needs medical assistance. For example, kidney stones, bladder infections, intestinal issues, cancer can all manifest as back pain.
If you suspect your back pain may not be caused by a strain, you should contact your doctor and ask for investigations. Your doctor may conduct tests to uncover the cause or refer you for physical therapy Brandon FL to regain flexibility and help you build your strength.
3. Aim to Avert It
Provided that you managed to get rid of the pain and are functional again, you might want to be interested in avoiding it in the future. Once you’ve treated and relieved your lower back pain, you must take precautions to keep it from returning. Because this region supports your upper body, it’s vital to prevent stress on the area.
Work out at least 30 minutes a day – walking, low-impact aerobics or riding a stationary bike can improve mobility and strength. Maintain the proper posture when participating in sports, lifting heavy items or sitting at your work desk. If you’re overweight, consider a program of diet and exercise to drop excess pounds that can put a strain on your back.
Another important thing to do is to avoid lifting or carrying heavy things. A lot of times strains aren’t actually the cause of lower back pain, but hernia. A herniated disk rarely requires corrective surgery. However, it does put a limit on how much weight you can carry before it causes pain.
All things considered, if you find yourself missing work or avoiding physical activities because of your chronic lower back pain, it’s time to address it. If your physician has ruled out a more serious medical cause that can be treated, ensure you’re taking preventive measures to help it heal and restore flexible and pain-free movement.