Back pain is a problem that can affect anyone. It’s one of those universal pain problems that almost everyone experiences at least some point in their life. However, it’s not random and there are usually underlying causes which lead to back pain. In some cases, these problems can even exacerbate the issue, making it a bigger problem than it should be. So to help you out, here are a couple of tips to help you identify your back pain and find a remedy that suits your circumstances.
Are there different types of back pain?
One of the first things to understand is that there are different types of back pain. Back pain can often get worse or improve in certain situations. For instance, you might find that it gets better when you’re lying down or sitting down. Some people might find that their back pain goes away when they stand up and stretch.
It’s important to try and write down the situations where your back pain improves or gets worse as it could be a clue to the cause of your back pain and will help you find a remedy that helps you relieve the pain.
What risk factors could lead to back pain developing?
It’s also worth looking at some of the risk factors that could lead to back pain developing or getting worse.
- Age – Back pain becomes more common as you age. This often starts around age 35.
- Exercise – A lack of exercise means that your muscles are weak and unused, leading to back pain problems.
- Weight – Excess weight puts extra stress on your back which can lead to pain.
- Physical activities – Certain activities such as lifting can lead to improper use of your back, resulting in pain.
- Smoking – Research shows that smokers have increased rates of back pain.
- Diseases – Certain diseases such as arthritis can contribute to back pain.
Medical conditions that can cause back pain
There are also some common medical conditions that can cause back pain.
- Muscle or ligament strains
- Slipped (prolapsed) disc
- Sciatica
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
If you experience any of these conditions, then there’s a good chance that it’s related to your back pain.
Should I see a doctor about my back pain?
You should see a doctor about your back pain if:
- The pain lasts for several weeks.
- It doesn’t improve even if you rest.
- You find that it’s severe and debilitating.
- It causes pain that spreads to your legs over time.
- It causes numbness or tingling.
- You feel weak and are unable to carry out your daily activities.
- You’ve suddenly lost a lot of weight.
In addition, you should be more careful if your back pain is accompanied by a fever, if you’ve been having bladder problems, or if you’ve recently fallen or injured your back. In these situations, you may want to seek help immediately.
Remedies for back pain
So now that we understand some of the causes of back pain and the risk factors, it’s important to look at some pain management techniques to help you relieve your back pain. While many of these remedies can certainly reduce the pain you experience, it’s important to get to the root cause of your back pain.
Try using some natural solutions
Use pads to relief your muscles. Heat or cold pads can often help. You can purchase heat and cold packs that will provide temporary relief, but they might not help in the long term if you experience chronic back pain. You can also try to use some CBD oil, as it helps a lot of people with pain relief in a natural way. CBD oils come in all different forms and prices but make sure you get a good quality CBD oil like Blessed CBD. It’s a family-run business that uses organically grown ingredients.
Consider some stretching techniques
Stretching can also help relieve your back pain. Emily Lark’s ‘Back To Life’ program is a stretching routine that helps to correct postural imbalances, build core strength, and also relieve back pain. We highly recommend that you try out a number of different stretching exercises to see if any of them can improve your back pain.
Get plenty of sleep but avoid bed rest
Sleep is important to help your body recover, but staying in bed for too long can result in back pain and stiff muscles. Make sure you get plenty of rest but don’t stay in bed for too long if your back is in pain still.
Maintain a good posture
Good posture helps to relieve the stress on your back muscles. This can help you reduce the amount of pain your experience.
Manage your stress
Stress is known to exacerbate your back pain. Make sure you reduce the stress you experience on a regular basis to help reduce your back pain. Learn relaxation and meditation techniques to help you through stressful situations.
Speak to your physician
If you’re still having trouble with your back, don’t hesitate to speak to your physician as soon as possible. This will help you identify the causes of your back pain and they’ll be able to prescribe you with medication to help relieve it.
Preventing back pain in the first place
It’s also a good idea to look at how you can prevent back pain in the first place.
- Make sure you get regular exercise to keep your back healthy. Practice stretching techniques and work out at home every day to keep your body in good shape.
- Build your muscle strength and flexibility to improve your core and back. This will help reduce the chances of you experiencing back pain. Just make sure you don’t overdo it as this could cause more problems in the future.
- Be smarter about lifting. If you have to lift something heavy, make sure you position yourself so that you’re not straining your back too much.
- Quit smoking. Smoking is known to make back pain issues worse, so quitting a bad habit like this can ultimately help you prevent back pain.
We hope that this article has been informative on what causes back pain, how to cope with it, and also how to prevent it in the first place. Back pain is surprisingly common, so it’s a good idea to learn how to relieve it.