11 Ways To Treat Pain In The Lower Back
For a great many people pain in the lower back can be the cause of much suffering. In general back pain can have many causes, the most common being bad posture, lifting heavy objects incorrectly, slouching in seats, badly fitting footwear and can even be caused by stress in our lives. These are in effect bad habits which, continued over a long period of time often result in severe back pain.
There are other causes of Pain In The Lower Back such as bone disease, slipped disk, arthritis or even a curvature of the spine. Medical conditions can also produce pain in this area such as problems with kidney or bladder infection and some pelvic infections suffered by women.
There are a vast number of treatments available which can be a little confusing so below is some information on a few of them which will hopefully make them a bit clearer.
1. In the case of severe pain in lower back exercise is essential. Back exercises will help to strengthen the back and should be carried out daily. It is important to remember to warm up the muscles properly before starting. This can be done simply by going for a swim or a walk. The exercises should include flexing and extending the muscles. A hot bath afterwards will help the muscles relax.
2. When Pain In The Lower Back is extremely painful the use of hot and cold compresses can prove to be helpful. These should be repeated every half hour in an attempt to prevent swelling and limit the amount of injury to the back until the pain has eased. Treatment from a chiropractor may be useful in realigning the spinal vertebra.
3. Slouching when sitting and walking is very bad for the back. It is important that the back is kept straight and the shoulders back when doing both.
4. Heavy lifting should be avoided if Pain In The Lower Back is a problem. If it is essential it must be done in the proper manner i.e. with the knees bent and the back straight and try to move without jerking the body in any way.
5. Dietary supplements are something you may want to consider. The mineral magnesium works by relaxing the muscles whilst other minerals such as manganese and zinc promote the repair of damaged tissue. The amino acid called DL- phenylalanine is excellent for natural pain relief. Vitamins such as A C and E act as antioxidants and for relieving day to day stress B vitamins really do help.
6. For pain in lower back heat is often applied using for example a hot water bottle. To maximise the effect wrap a wet cloth round it before applying it to the back. This will help increase circulation in the painful area and relaxes any muscles which may have gone into spasm.
7. Sleeping on a mattress which is too soft will cause major problems with pain in lower back. A hard perhaps even an orthopaedic mattress is best for back pain sufferers. Try to keep the pressure placed on the back during sleep to a minimum by keeping the knees pulled up to the chest - in the foetal position. Caution should also be taken when getting out of bed in the morning, the worst thing you can do is sit up in one swift movement. Almost rolling off the bed legs first is the safest way.
8. If you tend to watch television for hours at a time it is important that your posture is correct. The chair you sit in should be firm with a good back support. Feet should be kept flat on the floor and the knees should be above the level of the hips at all times
9. The use of medical spas may help greatly with the use of infra-red and steam saunas.
10. Encouraging the body to repair itself through the use of natural solutions being injected into areas of the back where ligament which hold bones together and the tendons which hold muscles together are found. This stimulates the body to begin to produce new healthy tissue in these weak areas, allowing the joints to be held together more securely. This treatment is called prolotherapy and is usually administered on a weekly basis. It has been found that by using this technique the body can begin to repair itself and intrusive surgery can actually be avoided.
11. There are homoeopathic remedies which have been shown to help pain in lower back. Some of these include: Ruta Graeolens, this is used when lower back pain is exacerbated by lying or sitting. Calcarea Fluorica is good for burning type pain which eases when moving around but is made worse by rest. There are a number of these remedies which are usually available in the form of oil or cream. There are also various combination remedies on the market, for example one name which comes to mind is Traumeel.
It is very important to stress that if you experience pain in lower back which comes on suddenly and is present with other symptoms such as pain in the chest or if pain begins to travel down the legs you must seek medical attention, as this may signal some serious medical conditions.
