Whether it’s age, lifestyle, or just a random bout of soreness, nothing is worse than dealing with chronic low back pain. Unfortunately, it’s something that many of us have to struggle with on a daily basis.
However, if you have pain that doesn’t seem to want to go away, we have news for you. There is relief that can be effective and long-lasting! You don’t have to struggle with low back pain for the rest of your life.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
Often times, lower back pain isn’t something you need to worry about. It can frequently be caused by your lifestyle, but it can also be caused by conditions like arthritis .
Many people today are working long hours at a desk, sitting for too long without getting up. When we sit and are not active, our backs can start to ache. Think of those times you’ve been on a long car ride, back pain always comes after that!
When you are dealing with low back pain, imagine that it’s probably just a lifestyle thing that needs to change. If so, there are lots of ways to help. Most back pain is sciatica pain or a sprain from overuse.
Does Treatment Work?
With 80% of Americans experiencing low back pain at some time in their life, it’s a prevalent problem that has many searching for ways to make it better. In fact, it’s the second most common reason that adults miss work!
The good news is, treatment does usually work. It’s not something that you have to live with. Depending on your treatment method or methods, you may experience back pain more than once. If so, trying a different method of treatment can help.
Maybe you’ve tried treatment options in the past and they haven’t worked out for you. That could because you’re treating the pain rather than the root of the problem.
5 Guidelines For Effective Pain Relief
If you’re looking for effective pain relief, do these five things to kiss your lower back pain goodbye.
1. Exercise
We all get told to exercise, but yet, many of us don’t do it. Though we know it’s healthy and that exercise keeps our bones strong, too often, we skip exercising due to our busy lives. When we do exercise, we do the wrong exercises that can exasperate pain and leave us with more problems than before.
If you’re suffering from low back pain, the last thing you want to think about is exercise. However, it may be the one thing that helps you kick your back pain to the curb. When we exercise, we keep the flexibility and mobility in our joints. This is especially important in our spine. Exercise can also strengthen your back and stomach muscles, which allow for greater support of your spine.
2. Vitamins and Eat Healthy
The best diet is a healthy one, and that rings true for back pain as well! Your back in extremely important, and thanks to our diets, we often aren’t getting the vitamins needed to support a healthy spine.
If you’re dealing with back pain, it could be that you’re not taking care of your joints with a healthy diet. Try to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine. Some supplements to consider taking are also bromelain, turmeric, and chondroitin. These vitamins can be found at local health stores.
3. Stretch
The most important thing you can do for your back is stretch!
Especially as we age, we lose the flexibility in our spine that we originally were born with. When we don’t have adequate flexibility, even small movements can cause acute back pain that lasts for too long. Gentle yoga stretches are a great addition to any workout routine because they focus on stretching and elongating the spine.
After your exercise, make sure you stop and stretch for at least ten minutes. You want your back to be relaxed and stretched out so that you aren’t hurting it more. Even if you failed to get an exercise in, stretching the spine and muscles in your back can keep back pain at bay and provide better mobility.
4. Creams and Medicines
If you are still dealing with back pain, another treatment to try is over the counter pain medication and/or pain creams. Creams with capsaicin in it are especially helpful as they relax the muscles and can stop the pain from bothering you.
While you should never rely on over the counter pain medication or pain relief creams, they are a great addition to an already fruitful treatment routine. Some individuals react better to different pain medications, but starting with Tylenol or Motrin is a good bet.
If your back pain is sudden and doesn’t usually last long, creams and medicines can be your first course of action as long as you keep up with your exercise and stretches as well.
5. Chiropractic Treatment
Another way to help your chronic lower back pain is to get chiropractic treatment. Heck, even if you’re up here in Alaska, you can count on me as one of the best Anchorage, Alaska chiropractors around ; if you’re not from around here, not to worry, other chiropractors around the globe can help ease your lower back pain.
There are a lot more things that chiropractors can do than adjustments, though those won’t hurt either! An adjustment may be the one thing your back needs, and chiropractors can work with you to figure out the best treatment method to help your pain.
Most chiropractors will take images of your spine and tailor your treatment especially for you. This helps to make sure you are getting the best treatment available, and it can keep the lower back pain from causing you to miss work or other activities. Even when your back pain disappears, chiropractors can help keep it away for good.
Final Say
No one wants to deal with lower back pain, which is why so many people are looking for treatment options. While your chronic pain may take more than some exercise, if you follow these guidelines, you’re set for a happier and pain-free life. Chronic back pain holds too many of us back, and it’s time to get rid of that back pain fast .
About Dr. Brent Wells
A leading chiropractor in Anchorage who believes in the Golden Rule. Dr. Wells received his Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine degree from Western States Chiropractic College.