Back discomfort can cause a variety of different symptoms for each person. Some complain of a sharp, shooting pain and others describe an overall stiffness in their back. Here are some hints on how to deal with any back pain you have.
Avoid back pain with a nice firm mattress to support your spine. It is commonly understood that soft mattresses can be bad for backs. Mattresses that are firm provide the best support level, but too much firmness can have the opposite effect. It may take quite a few visits to different mattress stores, and testing a number of types before you are satisfied with a particular mattress.
Practice good posture when you are sitting, standing or working at your desk. It is a common misconception that strenuous physical activity is the cause of back injuries. Truthfully, sitting in a chair the incorrectly for long periods of time can cause damage to your back muscles.
Stop slouching and practice good posture, even when doing housework. If you notice that while you vacuum you have to bend over to reach and push the vacuum forward, your back will start to hurt. This pain is easily avoided if you maintain proper posture during this household activity. Make sure you stand completely erect, and power the movements of the vacuum with the strength of your legs. When you use your back, you create more back pain.
Breast reductions are not as common of a topic as implants. If you believe your breasts are the source of serious back discomfort, then a reduction may be your best option. Significantly large breasts can cause a strain on your back and cause much back pain. Women have have their breasts augmented are at specific risk for this.
Muscle spasms will need to be eased if you are having serious back pain. The quickest way to do this is to lay down and apply heat to the tense muscles. It may also benefit you to cut down on sodium intake and drink plenty of fluids until the pain subsides. Dehydration can cause or worsen your muscle spasms.
Consider speaking with your physician if your back discomfort is extreme or prolonged, as there may be something other than just the aches and pain of everyday life going on. Your doctor can run some diagnostic tests and give you a full physical. This can help you to determine what is at the root of your pain, and what an effective treatment plan might look like.
Anyone who experiences back discomfort should take the time to exercise often. People with back discomfort mistakenly assume exercise makes it worse, but in fact the opposite is true. Stretching and developing back muscles will improve painful back conditions in many people.
Sitting up straight is a good idea. Bad posture causes a strain on your spine and the surrounding tissues. A firm, supportive desk chair is key to staying comfortable when you have to spend hours at your desk. Another option is to sit on an exercise ball, which builds strength in your back and almost forces you to use proper posture.
Make a conscious decision to sleep in a good position. It might not be comfortable to sleep on your back, but it provides the most relief from back discomfort and allows you to sleep with a heating pad underneath. Never sleep on your stomach!
A good way to avoid getting pain in your back is to cut out caffeine entirely from your diet. Caffeine is known to trigger muscle spasms, inflaming them if your muscle is damaged at all. Stay away from coffee and tea or at least cut down on it to help ease your back discomfort.
Even though the symptoms of back discomfort may differ from person to person, all of the symptoms are equally painful in one way or another. Dealing with pain in your back can affect your entire perspective in the course of a day. Apply the tips provided in the above article when managing your back discomfort so you can keep living your typical life.