What is back pain?
Most of us have experienced back pain sometime or the other. It is one of the leading causes of frequent visits to doctors. In extreme cases, it can be debilitating enough to qualify as a worker disability.
Back pain is the ache in the lower part of the back, part where the upper body and lower body join. This part is made up of bones, muscles and ligaments and is neatly designed, even has a "shock absorber" mechanism in place. However, it does have a hard work to do. Did you know that low back is the part of the body that carries most of our weight. Not surprising then, under certain situations, it might be strained. The back pain could be sporadic and recurring or persistent and long lasting. In any case, it is unpleasant and something we would like to get rid of.
Causes of back pain
Here are some situations that can cause back pain:
- Lifting heavy weight
- Obesity
- Injury or impact that can happen ranging from sports
activities to while doing household chores. - Sleeping in a quirky position or on an uncomfortable mattress
- Stress on muscles and tissue that could be the result of fatigue or even mental stress
- Long continuous hours of sitting in any one position, for example, in front of the computer, or TV or long drive
- Medical condition such as Arthritis
- Medical condition such as Osteoporosis
Helpful tips to get rid of back pain
Below we have listed some of the things you can do to help ease the back pain.
- Mobility helps. This may sound strange but it is true. If you just sit around or lay in bed because of back pain, it is not going to away easily. You should frequently get up and move around just like when you do some little chores around the house, or a short gentle walk in the hallway at workplace, etc.
- Applying cold pack (or put ice in zip lock bag) is beneficial immediately following an impact or jerk on the back. It helps reduce the pain and swelling.
- Applying hot pack (these are rubber pouches available which can be filled with hot water), after the swelling has subsided, is definitely soothing and comforting.
- Light exercise is really effective and fastest way to get
rid of back pain. Doing gentle back specific exercises for small sessions, just 5 minutes or so, 4-5 times in a day will surely help. Our exercise page contains a lot of excellent exercises for the whole body, some of the exercises are surely effective in relieving the discomfort caused by back pain.
- Tender massage with a balm (these are available off the counter at pharmacies) 2-3 times a day alleviates the agony and soreness. Balm definitely works much better but cooking oil can be used for massage if you do not have balm available.
