A lot of people who have chronic back discomfort can manage it and live a normal life. If you suffer from back discomfort, you are probably surprised to learn this.

To prevent back discomfort, be sure to sleep on a mattress that has the right firmness for you. It is generally agreed that very soft mattresses are not good for backs. Firm mattresses are better, but it shouldn’t be too firm because that can also be damaging. Finding the right mattress might mean trips to more than one mattress store. It’s important to find the right one though, so make sure you take the time to find one that is appropriate.

While waiting to get medical attention for an injured back, it is common to experience extreme discomfort while sitting down and lying in bed. Lying flat on the back with the knees bent is a position that many people suffering from back injuries, such as ruptured discs, find comfortable. This position will reduce the tension in the tendons and muscles which run through the legs and back.

Don’t pretend that your back discomfort isn’t there. Many people attempt to ignore back pain and push through it. They attempt to ignore things to get rid of back pain. While in pain, moving too much may worsen it. Sit down, relax and don’t do much until the pain lightens.

When you have an onset of back discomfort, rest for a couple days to be able to correctly determine the severity and to prevent further injury. If the pain goes away in those couple days, then you can assume the injury was minor. Then again, the pain could get worse or stay the same; in which case, you’d have to see a doctor or chiropractor to determine the cause. Trying to rest away the pain may in fact allow it to worsen by causing the support muscles to further weaken from lack of use.

Do not slouch your stance for any activity, including household chores like vacuuming. If you are constantly bending while vacuuming, then back pain will be the result. Stand up straight and with good posture pushing the vacuum with your legs and not your back so as to avoid causing pain.

Be certain your diet is healthy and nutritious and includes eight good glasses of daily water. There are many things that a nutritious diet can do for you, and helping to prevent back discomfort is one of them. It can help you lose weight and reduce strain on your back, as well as provide your spine and back muscles with the nutrients they need to remain healthy.

Muscle Spasms

When you have bad back discomfort, you need to try to calm the muscle spasms you are experiencing. The fastest way to accomplish this is by laying down and putting heat on the tense muscles. It will also be a good idea to drink a lot of water and lower your sodium intake while you are in pain. If you are dehydrated, it can actually make your muscle spasms worse.

The lower portion of the back is most-commonly the culprit of harsh back discomfort and sends huge amounts of people to the hospital each year. A lot of the daily actions you take could be done differently to avoid lower back issues. When lower back discomfort appears inevitable and common, you really want to do as much as you can to stop it from happening to you.

There are many kinds of medications for back discomfort, including over the counter and prescription medications. Before you make any decisions, consult with your doctor. Over the counter pain medication is sometimes all that is needed, but other times prescription strength medicine or painkillers are necessary.

If you are 10 pounds or more overweight, you may want to consider a weight-loss plan. Extra weight will shift the center of gravity in your body. This causes strain on your lower back, and you could get chronic pain down there.

Be mindful of the position you sleep in. It is not always the most comfortable way to sleep, but when you sleep on your back it usually is a good way for back discomfort to stay at bay, because it lets you be able to place a heating pad underneath you. Make sure that you do not sleep on your stomach.

If back pain plagues you, you know much it can affect your personal and work life. It can damage friendships and cause occupational stress.