Back pain can be one of the most uncomfortable body fatigues a person can deal with. It can hurt while you sit, stand, and lay down. Sometimes, it feels as if it will never be any better. There are times back pain can be caused because of minor things such as bad posture, but other times there can be some serious underlying issues. Either way, it’s important to take back pain seriously in order to get better. Make sure to understand your back pain, what is causing it, and how to relieve the pain.
Diagnosing Back Pain
Your back can cause you problems due to bad posture, not sleeping well, age, and other more serious issues. With such a complex composition of muscles, ligaments, tendons, disks, and bones inside of the back, this is the part of our body that supports the rest and allows us to move around. One of the most common reasons for back pain is strain and spams. Strain and spams in the back can be caused by muscle tension, damaged disks, or fractures from lifting weights or awkward and abrupt movements.
Another cause for back pain is structural problems such as disk ruptures, bulging disks, arthritis, kidney problems, sciatica, or osteoporosis, To know what is truly wrong, it’s imperative to seek medical help. A doctor is the best way to know the severity of the cause of your back pain.
When to See a Doctor
It’s important to always see a doctor if you are experiencing pain, especially if the pain worsens. If you are having back pain, seek medical help when you have any numbness or tingling, if the pain does not improve with rest, after an injury or fall, numbness in the legs, weakness, fever, or unexplained weight loss. These are signs of very serious issues that may be detrimental to your physical health.
Treatment Options & Prevention
Doctors will have the best advice on what to do to improve your back pain. If the pain is, for the most part, mild and not a serious medical issue, there are treatments and prevention tips you may follow:
- Exercise: One of the best remedies and prevention for back pain is exercise. Exercise helps get our body move and keeps us in our best shape. While too vigorous and straining exercise can do more harm to the back than good, working out can help keep your weight down, muscles moving, and joints fluid.
- Sleeping Sideways: The way we are positioned while we sleep is very important. When you sleep, the best position to prevent back pain is sleeping on your side. Sleeping sideways keeps stress off of your back. For even better prevention, invest in a quality mattress.
- Reduce Stress: The stress of our daily chores and obligations is not only straining on the mind but on the body as well. When you are stressed out, your muscles tense. Constant tension is terrible for your back and can cause immense and annoying pains. Try yoga, meditation, biofeedback, deep breathing, tai chi, and guided imagery to keep yourself less stressed.
- Quit Smoking: Cigarettes are not only bad for your lungs and the lungs of people around you, but it is also a big factor in back pain. Research has proven smoking can worsen existing back pain.