A common problem with many adults is back pain. Many of us experience back pain caused by our daily routines such as when we spend too much time sitting while at work, or when we drive for a long period of time. Lifting heavy furnitures while cleaning up at home, working in the garden, or lifting weights in the gym can also cause back pain. These activities can sometimes put so much pressure and weight on your back causing low back injuries such as muscle strain or spasm, sprain of ligaments, joint problems, or slipped disk. When we have back pain, it affects our daily functions. The feeling of pain can be from slightly tolerable to unbearably painful. Knowing what caused your back pain is something you need to discuss with your doctor.
Slipped Disk or Herniated Disk
When a disk between the bones of the spine swells or bulges and starts pressing on nerves, a slipped disk or herniated disk occurs. This is often caused by twisting while lifting. When you have a slipped disk, you may experience difficulty in doing regular tasks or activities like sitting and bending. When the injury is severe, you will have the tendency to avoid movement due to intense pain. A lot of people don’t realize what caused their slipped disk but it is worthy to know that the injury will not lead to paralysis, and treatment is readily available.
Natural Pain Relief
Treatment options for Herniated disk or Slipped disk can fall into Non-surgical or Surgical methods. Both treatments have risk and benefit factors. It is important that you discuss it with your doctor. However, most back pain can be relieved by a few simple methods that doctors would suggest to try non-surgical means first to reduce irritation of the nerve. Natural pain relief such as enough bed rest, proper posture when sitting, walking, and lying, as well as regular exercise can do the tricks.
When sleeping, the best position is to sleep on your side with your knees bent. A pillow under your head is recommended to support your neck and may use a pillow in between your knees. You can also lie on your back on a firm mattress with pillows under your knees. Or you can lie on the floor with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair. This takes the pressure and weight off your back. You may only need about two days of this sort of rest for a hurt back. Too much bed rest can cause your muscles to weaken and slows down your recovery. Try to walk around, even when it sometimes hurt, for a few minutes every hour. Such regular movement can help maintain muscle tone but limit activities such as prolonged sitting, lifting, and bending which can aggravate the symptoms.
Proper sitting position can help provide back pain relief. Choose chairs with straight backs or low-back support. See to it that you keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Make adjustments with your seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on. When you turn, move your whole body rather than by just twisting at your waist.