16 Ways to Say Goodbye to Back Pain

Back pain is very common, and there are many people that are simply living with it. Whether from a serious injury, a temporary sprain or just from the daily tugs and pulls on the body, back pain can be hard to treat. Here are some back pain management tips for dealing with it.

1. Use ice to help alleviate back pain, as it can reduce swelling and inflammation from injuries that cause back pain. Apply the ice to the affected area two or three times per day for 10 to 20 minutes, and this may help you feel better. An ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables can be used for this purpose.
2. Always take time to stretch, regardless of whether you will encounter strenuous activity. If you stretch, you are giving your back more preparation for the day ahead, without which you could be allowing yourself to experience pain and even injuries. Even if you aren't planning a stressful day, you want to make sure that you are stretching sufficiently to loosen those muscles in the back that are used so often.
3. After you're finished exercising, make sure you stretch. This will help keep your muscles loose and limber and prevent them from tightening up. Having muscles that are overly tight is a very common source of back pain so you want to avoid that. By stretching as a cool down, you'll be able to keep those muscles loose.
4. Avoid motions that twist your spine. The more often you twist, the higher your chance of injury. You should especially avoid twisting while lifting heavy objects. Change your position or the way you're doing the activity if you notice straining in your muscles while twisting. Paying attention to the warning signs early can save you pain later.
5. Exercise is one of the best ways to help get rid of and prevent back pain. You might think that exercise can cause further back pain, and it obviously could if you chose the wrong type or amount of exercise. However, exercise is good for you, and too must rest can actually hurt your back even more.
6. Many people do not know this, but nicotine hinders the flow of nutrient rich blood to spinal discs. This easily causes back pain and therefore means smokers are highly susceptible to back pain. If you smoke then it is recommended you should quit for many reasons, and now you can make this yet another reason.
7. Be sure that you wear comfortable sneakers or shoes if you suffer from back pain. Walking with heels or other uncomfortable shoes can make you walk improperly and cause back pain to begin or increase. Try to buy sneakers that are fitting and have a rubber sole on the bottom for the best support.
8. Back pain comes in many forms. Make sure you know exactly what type of pain you are trying to relieve. Did you lift something wrong or twist the wrong way? Or are you just getting old? Each different type of pain will need different methodologies.
9. Taking a pillow with you on long drives can help to relieve back pain. By placing a soft pillow between the small of your back and the seat of the automobile, you are creating a cushioned support that will help you maintain proper posture when driving those long hours and thus help to decrease back pain.
10. To address back pain, take up yoga. Even if you are in poor physical condition, you can begin with some simple, easy positions that will help stretch your back muscles and loosen tension. By strengthening and lengthening the muscles of the back and releasing tension in the spine, you will eliminate your back pain.
11. If your back is stiff in the morning, it may help to spend some time stretching before you even get out of bed. While asleep, blood leaves the back to go to organ groups, which means that if you wake up and try to move right away, your back muscles aren't ready.
12. Relaxing your back isn't good enough if you want to get rid of back pain; you need to relax your entire body. Because your back muscles are so large and connected to every other muscle group, tension in your calf muscles or shoulders can cause the back pain to persist and even to intensify.
13. If you are sitting in a chair working at a desk, make sure your chair has good support and is the right height. You should never have to strain to get on or off a chair. If you are not comfortable, any office supply store will carry a variety of chairs.
14. When you sit or drive for extended periods of time, you are risking your back health. Get some back cushions to help with your back issues. These can be purchased at many online retailers, and are typically sold in drugstores as well. A number of varying styles of support pads exist, so it is just a matter of finding the one that is comfortable to you.
15. Avoid very hard soled shoes if you are suffering from back pain. Hard soled shoes can cause compression problems with your spinal cord. The result can be painful flare ups in your lower back. Try a comfortable pair of orthopedic shoes, or even a simple pair of running shoes, instead.
16. Back pain sufferers should have a comfortable office chair. Sitting is a compression activity, placing strain on the discs in your back. Having a chair you feel good in is a good start. Your chair should offer good support, and it should not place any extra pressure on your lumbar area. Arm rests can also help you to sit correctly.

Now that you've read these tips, you can pick the ones that will work best for you and start to relieve your back pain. Back pain is something that no one should have to deal with long term, and you should start to treat yours today, so that you can feel better tomorrow. Of course, if these excellent tips don’t help to alleviate your back pain, consult with a pain management specialist near you for professional medical assistance.