Chronic back pain is truly a pain. It can affect your sleep, your work performance, and your ability to be active. But there’s no reason to let back pain win. Here are just a few ways that you can strike back against back pain.
Buy the right mattress
A mattress that’s too soft could be aggravating your bad back. Doctors recommend a firm mattress that can support your spine. You can buy specialist orthopedic mattresses that are effective at providing comfort. Especially if your back pain is chronic, make sure to kick that saggy mattress to the curb!
Get a massage
Back pain can cause muscles and ligaments to become tight. A professional massage can help relax muscles and alleviate this discomfort. Go to a chiropractor’s office or even a day spa. And don’t forget other forms of holistic therapy such as acupuncture and hot and cold treatments.
Take a hot bath
A hot bath can feel so amazing when you’re experiencing back pain. The hot water can relax tight muscles that are causing discomfort by increasing blood flow into the muscles and joints. And the buoyancy of the water can take the pressure off the back. As an added bonus, a hot bath can help release endorphins into the body – our body’s happy hormone – which can temporarily ease pain!
Reduce stress
Stress is bad for chronic pain. When you’re stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight survival mode. Cortisol – the stress hormone – causes muscles and joints to contract as if ready to run or fight for your life. These contracted muscles and joints can make pain much worse. Take steps to fight stress in your life whenever possible. If you can’t remove stressful triggers from you life, take measures to relieve stress such as exercise, listening to music, meditation and having a hot bath. (it really is good for your back!)
Check your benefits
Back pain can come with financial benefits. These benefits may help pay for treatment or simply help to improve your quality of life. If a back injury was due to a road collision or a bad job, you may be entitled to legal compensation. This is compensation that could help with a back injury. There may also be government benefits that you’re entitled to if your pain is severe and debilitating. These are all worth looking into.
Stay active
There was a time when doctors recommended staying in bed to help a bad back. Not these days! New research has found that inactivity can in fact be harmful over long periods. Keeping active can actually be much better for your back as it prevent stiffness and muscle wear, whilst also pumping your body full of pain-reducing endorphins, Just make sure to choose the right type of exercise for a bad back. And don’t overdo it. Swimming and Pilates are excellent for back pain!
*image courtesy of Pixabay
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Another reminder to start doing the Pilates each evening like I planned to when winter struck! My morning cardio & weights consumes my time, but the Pilates has been so helpful to keep my back issues at bay. I do manage to do plank & down dog–that gives a good stretch.
Hmmm, and a good excuse for a bubble bath!