How to Relieve Back Pain

Those who suffer from back pain off and on, they only know how badly it affects the mobility and day-to-day activities. Your back literally carries the burden of your entire body. The causes that contribute to back pain are mainly associated with swelling of the muscles, nerve roots, tendons or joints for one reason or the other. Pain in lower back is more common than pain in upper back. Sometimes left or right back pain can be noticed, depending upon the causes. As the pain deprives you from enjoying your normal routine activities, you should first find out the exact cause of the pain. Detecting the cause helps plan the treatment.

Back Pain Causes

There exist numerous causes of back pain, only some of the main causes are listed below.

• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Stress
• Aging
• Sciatica
• Spinal Stenosis
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Menstruation
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Rotator cuff injury
• Muscle cramps
• Tendonitis
• Frozen shoulder
• Bursitis
• Cancers or tumors
• Degenerative disc diseases
• Spondyloarthropathy
• Fractures or injuries
• Any surgery
• Wrong posture
• Fever or diseases leading to weakness and fatigue

Back Pain Remedies

• Ice and Heat: A combination of ice and heat therapy can be opted for relieving the back pain at home. It may help reduce the pain and tingling sensation.
• Medications: You may take over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines or pain killers which will help reduce swelling and pain.
• Massage: You can apply pain balms or ointments. Massage with sesame or olive oil or any medicated oil works great for back pain.
• Cortisone Injections: Cortisone injections for back pain work great if there is a constant severe pain in back.
• Physiotherapy: Doctor may ask you to opt for physical therapy for easy movement of the affected part.
• Inversion Therapy: After knowing about the inversion therapy (being in the head-down position) benefits, you may opt for it. But it is not safe for everyone. You should consult your physician before opting for this therapy. It involves stretching the spine (spinal traction) and thus, is helpful in lowering back pain.
• Acupressure/Acupuncture: Acupressure and acupuncture are the other therapies which work great for chronic back pain.
• Yoga: Yoga helps relieve lower back pain. Yoga postures are so designed that they help relieve any type of pain, but consistency is required.
• Exercise: The best way to relieve back pain is to perform back exercises. Under the guidance of your physician or physical trainer, you can perform back exercises regularly, which can definitely offer you back pain relief.
• Diet: Not only exercise but healthy diet also helps maintain your health. Deficiency of nutrients can lead to weak bones and muscles, resulting in back pain.
• Habits: As you are thinking about how to relieve back pain, I would like to tell you that you should check how you sit, stand or sleep. You should always sit upright. While standing, try to maintain straight posture of the back bone and shoulders. You should avoid irregularity in eating and sleeping. Try to avoid late nights, excessive use of alcohol and tobacco. Check your mattress and pillow, if they are not comfortable, change them.
• Other Factors: Sufficient sleep, hot water bath and warm clothes in winter are also good back pain relievers. Meditation can help you manage the stress. Inserting a small cushion, while sitting in office chairs, car seats, sofas, beds, dining chairs, etc, can provide you the missing support for your lower or upper back. You may use professionally designed back braces too. Wearing perfect shoes is also one of the ways to treat back pain. Traction devices can be opted for if, if the pain is experienced over an extended period.

I hope you found the above remedies helpful. If you are experiencing severe back pain, or if the pain does not go away within 3-4 days, you should consult your doctor and undergo various tests like x-ray, to detect the cause of the pain. It should be noted that dysfunction of any of the main body systems or body organs can lead to back pain.