Back Pain Relief

Low Back Pain Stretching Exercises

 

 

Low back pain is one of the oldest occupational health problems in history and one of the most common causes of work-related complaints among adults. Nearly 15 million people seek physicians help each year for back pain treatment.  It is estimated that a total of $25 billion is spent every year to treat this form of body ache.   For this reason, the back pain relief and muscle relaxant industries are growing by leaps and bounds.

Low back pain is a skeletal and muscular ailment that affects millions of people around the world.  People with blue-collar jobs or those who are required to do heavy manual work are more prone to lumbar aches. It’s not surprising that construction workers have a lot of back pain problems. If left untreated, back pain can affect productivity and increase absenteeism. Worse, it could even be the cause of more serious health problems.

To determine the severity of lower back pain, you may use the following parameters to see how “bad” your back is:

 

• Acute Low back pain last less than 6 weeks
• Sub-Acute Low back pain between 6 and 12 weeks
• Chronic Low back pain persists for more than 12 weeks

 

The good news is that there are a variety of treatments for back pain.  One of the easiest ways to ease the aches is to use a muscle relaxant. Simple oral medication can provide relief for back pain. You need to get your physician’s advice for your back pain as some back pain medication can only be prescribed by a physician.

These are other helpful tips, procedures and strategies on back pain relief that you may want to consider:

• Apply a cold pack to the painful area for 5-10 minutes at time
• Use an heating pad on the painful area if the pain is still there within         a few days
• Protect your back. Try not to turn suddenly or bend awkwardly. Go on with your usual activities and try to avoid bed rest
• Get expert professional treatments
• Non-prescription Pain Medications
• Spinal Manipulation
• Get a massage
• Try acupuncture
• Traction treatments
• Biofeedback
• Back Belts and Corsets
• Injections into the back

Certainly, back pain relief goes beyond medication.  The cause of back pain can also be stress at work, family problems, and other distressing situations that may not necessarily be due to work or physical exertion. Everyday stress can make your muscles tighten and contribute to lumbar pain due to muscle tension. Self-hypnosis, meditation and guided imagery are also being promoted as tools or techniques to reduce the discomforts associated with lumbar ailments.  Back pain relief options can be expensive, depending on the specific technique prescribed by the therapist.

But surely, regardless of the severity or degree of back pain, it is always best to consult a doctor or healthcare professional. Back pain could be the result of other illnesses or health problems.