When it comes to back pain, there’s just about nothing worse. Back pain can throw your entire day out the window, as you find yourself incapacitated to do anything but sit there and wince in pain.
Unfortunately, back pain affects three out of every four American adults. While the reasons for this may vary, the fact remains the same—back pain can be excruciating. The great news is that there are ways to ease your suffering and feel better in no time. Here are some of the best tips for relieving your aching spine.
See a Chiropractor
The first thing you should do is see a professional to evaluate why your back is having problems. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to realign your spine yourself. A chiropractor is specially trained in the alignment of the spine and it will be a painless and smooth experience.
They can help you with everything from adjusting a misaligned jaw, to relieving lower back pain.
By carefully manipulating your spine, they can help you ease pain, by aligning and adjusting your spine.
Move More
Although your initial instinct may be to lie down when you are experiencing back pain, the truth is that one of the best things you can do for yourself is move. By staying as active as possible you’re stretching your back and keeping your back muscles warmed up.
That doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym and run for an hour, either. It’s as simple as going for a brisk walk every couple of hours which will slightly stretch your muscles and relieve your discomfort.
Lose Weight
In some cases, your back pain may be attributed to your weight. If necessary, you may want to consider dropping some pounds. Doctors recommend staying within a certain BMI for your height and age range. So, if you fall well out of your range, it may be worth considering making lifestyle changes.
Take Medication
Taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen may be extremely helpful for relieving your misery. It’s important that you follow the right dosage and don’t overdo it. Doing so could severely damage your liver, and create more problems than simply back pain.
Some doctors recommend alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen to get the best possible results. However, these medications may not always be the best choice for everyone, so always check with your primary health provider first.
Get a Good Quality Mattress
It’s important to ask yourself whether the cause of your spinal discomfort is the result of the mattress that you’re sleeping on. We spend a considerable amount of hours of our lives laying down our beds, so it’s important that yours has enough support. If your mattress is older than 10 years, then you may want to consider investing in a new one as soon as possible.
