Manage Low Back Pain At Home - Here’s How

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, approximately 60 to 80 percent of adult individuals in the U.S. suffer from lower back pain. Furthermore, it has been pegged the leading cause of disability in people over age 45.

Every year, about 13 million Americans visit the doctor for chronic back pain. Every day, numerous people are temporarily disabled because of these back aches.

It is very challenging to get rid of back pain. However,it is possible to manage it. If you’ve suffered an injury resulting in pain, you must consult with a doctor first. But for normal back aches that result from a wrong posture or sleeping in an incorrect position,you can adopt some simple changes in your lifestyle to manage it better.

Pain can be continuous and disrupt your routine life, especially if it is because of a degenerative disorder such as arthritis.So why not try some pain management techniques to find out what works for you? This does not mean you have to make some big change; adopting simple habits or solutions can make things better for you.

Here we list a few simple ways that can help you manage pain at home:

Relax your mind

Pain is as much a mental nuisance as it is a physical one. Our pain perception differs and sometimes altering this perception can help decrease pain. If we’re in a relaxed or happy state of mind, we perceive less pain than when feeling sad or agitated.

Go for massage, try aerobics or simply sit down a few minutes for meditation. Choose whichever you are more comfortable with and make it a part of your routine. It will help release endorphins; hormones that make you feel elated and also lower levels of stress hormones.

Get some sleep

Chronic pain can affect your sleep which can make your pain worse. Almost two-third of people living with chronic pain have some form of sleeping disorder. You must address your sleep issues as it will de-stress your body and lower pain.

Hot or cold treatment

Add a simple hot or cold pack; it significantly decreases pain.

Cold therapy will reduce inflammation which is universally associated with burning, swelling and pain. It will also act as an anesthetic to slow down some nerve impulses, resulting in lower pain perception.

Hot therapy increases blood flow so cells and tissues get enough nutrients and oxygen,keeping them healthy. It also stops pain signals from reaching your brain.

Exercise

There is no better way to keep your body fit than by adding exercise into your daily routine. Because of exercise, your body experiences less pain. Exercising daily engages your core muscles, especially those in your mid and lower back, to help keep them active. These muscles do not get enough of a work out in a routine day; hence exercise is a must.

While all these tips are easy to adopt at home, chronic pain can still become unbearable at times. Searching for alternative therapies such as acupuncture is a good idea. For your neck pain, shoulder pain or other similar problems, consult with Acupuncture Center of Bradenton today!