One of the most common problems of many adults, especially the elderly, is back pain. Many people experience back pain caused by daily routines such as spending too much time sitting while at work, or driving for a long period of time. Just like lifting weights in the gym, lifting heavy furniture while cleaning up at home or working in the garden, 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 a disk between the bones of the spine swells, 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.
There are several available treatment options for herniated disk or slipped disk. It can be non-surgical or surgical methods, both of which 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 or proper posture when sitting can do the tricks. Regular exercise is also a must.
The best sleeping position is to lie on your side with your knees bent. Support your neck with a pillow under your head. Another pillow may also be placed 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 for a few minutes every hour even when it hurts sometimes. Such regular movement can help maintain muscle tone.
Proper sitting position can help ease back pain. 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.
When driving for long hours, try to sit straight by moving the seat forward to keep you from leaning forward when reaching for the controls. It may help to use a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back if you must drive or sit for a long time.
People whose work requires them to stand for a long period of time must find a way to rest one foot on a low stool from time to time, and try to switch with the other foot every 5 to 15 minutes. A good posture is necessary to avoid back pain. Keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in a straight line with your head up and your stomach pulled in.
To relax painful muscle spasms, try using heating pads for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Likewise, ice packs and massages may also give the same back pain relief benefits.
Certified muscle relaxant Carisoprodol and anti inflammatory drugs may be used to relieve pain and discomfort until the body heals itself. However, some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Always consult with your doctor about any medication to determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks for you.
When nonsurgical therapy fails, your doctor may recommend surgical procedure as option. There are various surgeries available that range from the minimally invasive methods to a more serious procedure such as spinal fusion. The complexity of the surgery will depend on the severity of your condition.
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