Tips and Tricks for Managing Back Pain

1. Tips and Tricks for Managing Back Pain Ask any pain management specialist worth their salt and they’ll say that avoiding professional help and self-medicating chronic pain is a recipe for disaster. If you are in constant pain, you need the expertise of a trained back pain doctor. However, to prevent the initial onset of pain, and even for the occasional painful discomfort, the following tips will give you ways to help you control your back and spine pain. When dealing with back problems, it is best to use cold instead of heat to soothe pain. Some people might not have much luck with heating pads and hot compresses. Experts have found that cold to soothe can work just as well. It might not be as comfortable, but it can be effective in relieving pain. You might want to give it a shot and see what works best for you. Wear comfortable low-heeled shoes. The stress that high-heeled shoes put on your ankles and legs is transmitted up your body all the way to your hips and spine. Comfortable shoes will allow you to stand and walk more naturally, which can greatly reduce your incidence of back pain the next morning. If you have back pain, getting stressed about it will just aggravate it further. Learning to relax helps to ease the tension in your muscles which will decrease the chances of another injury. Make yourself comfortable and use heat packs on your back to help with the pain. Make sure you watch your posture at all times, whether standing or sitting. Poor posture leads to back problems. You should sit up in your chair at all times, and arm rests are important on chairs if possible to allow your back the support it needs. Extended use of a chair without arm rests can really put a strain on the back. To help prevent back pain, have adequate back support when lounging. Furniture isn't always designed with this in mind, so remember to use good posture and back support when sitting and reclining. For example, give your lower back a little support by placing a rolled up towel in the small of your back. If you suffer from back pain and you smoke, you need to quit as soon as possible. One of the nasty side effects of smoking is the intake of nicotine. Nicotine reduces blood flow throughout your body, including to your spine, and that increases your risk of back pain. When you hurt your back, usually hamstring stretching exercises can prove to be very helpful. If the muscles on the backs of your thighs are tight, they can usually cause your lower back to experience a lot of unnecessary stress and pain. You should stretch your hamstring muscles at least twice a day for 45 seconds at a time.

2. In conclusion, back pain affects many people. The common goal is to reduce or get rid of back pain completely. The only way to do this is to become educated on the topic. Hopefully these tips and tricks for pain management can help, and if you’re in the Dallas, Texas area, connect with the Dallas pain management leaders at Pegasus.