Back Pain Tips You Can Use
Marlene Baliss
Imagine what life would be like if you felt searing pain with every breath and every movement. If you suffer with back pain, that's how life can be.
A study in 2002 showed that back pain was a leading cause of doctor's appointments and missed work. Next to headaches back pain is, in fact, the second most common neurological ailment in the United States.
Most people suffer with back pain as a symptom of an injury or other underlying problem related to your spine. Pain may be caused by the bones, muscles and other soft tissues in the back.
When back pain strikes, it strikes hard; affecting your ability to work, take part in recreational activities and simply lead a normal lifestyle. Fortunately, back pain rarely signifies a serious underlying condition. In fact, most cases of back pain are relatively short term, lasting anywhere from several days to a few weeks. There are a number of treatment methods and remedies available for back pain, although there is no one method that will promise relief for every patient.
If you are prone to episodes of back pain, you should try to avoid certain activities, such as heavy lifting. Should back pain hit you hard, there are some things that you can do to bring relief:
Rest and Relaxation
Lying on the floor is the best way to find relief when your back is injured and you are in pain. Lie on your back with your hips and knees slightly bent. Place pillows under your knees for support. This position can help by taking the weight and pressure off of your back. If this doesn't help, try lying on your back with your feet propped up on a chair. With your back flat against the floor, and a pillow under your head, bend your knees so that the backs of your lower legs are resting on a pillow placed on top of a chair.
Resting your back in this manner can bring relief in just a day or two. But, if the pain doesn't go away, call your doctor. Resting like this for more than two days can weaken your muscles and extend your recovery period.
Feel the Heat
Mother always knew it, yet researchers can't prove it; still, many people swear by the power of heat for relieving back pain. Despite the lack of medical proof, a simple heating pad can deliver a relaxing effect for muscle spasms, which are leading contributors to back pain.
The best way to relieve pain using a heating pad is to leave the pad in place, over the painful section of your back, for 20 to 30 minutes. You may also try using ice packs in this manner. It's especially beneficial to have a massage following hot or cold pack treatments.
Pain Relief Medications
When you want fast-acting back pain relief, you can try one of many medications. Drugstores, supermarkets, department stores and well-stocked corner stores carry non-prescription medications to bring relief for your pain and reduce swelling. Some of the more common over-the-counter remedies are aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ketoprofen (Orudis), naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin).
If you are one of the millions of people who are missing work and play due to back pain, it's time to take your life back. Try one of these back pain relief methods, or ask your doctor for other treatment options.
Columnist Marlene Baliss is an essayist for numerous popular web magazines, on http://healthy-line.com/ healthy lifestyle and http://www.solveaproblem.com/ solve problems topics. This article is available as a http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=16895&b=79 unique content article with free reprint rights.
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