Is your back pain getting out of hand? Are you unable to do the things that you love? Do you sometimes wonder how it feels to have a good night’s sleep without having to wake up in immobilizing pain?
Living with back pain can be a debilitating experience. It makes you wish that you could just get through the day without depending on your creams, patches, heat packs, and medications.
Back pain can hamper the daily activities of your life and can take what should be moments of happiness, and turn them into moments of frustrating pain.
You do not have to be a victim of back pain
Back pain makes you feel like you’re a victim of its searing pain. You don’t have to be; you can take back control of your life and work towards living your best life without its tortuous effects.
Imagine indulging in the following activities without having to worry about your back:
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Playing with your kids
Sometimes piggyback rides with your kids become a thing of the past, as back pain inhibits these simple pleasures. Imagine being able to be active with your kids whenever you want, without being enslaved to your back pain.
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Hit the gym and get fit
Envisage not having to refrain from doing certain exercises or using equipment at the gym that might make you cringe in pain. Imagine trying a new fitness HIIT or CrossFit class with confidence and fearlessness.
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Playing sports
Remember the days you spent running around the tennis court and giving your opponents a taste of your perfect forehand swing? You can feel young and energetic again.
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A good night’s sleep
Imagine snoozing and back pain are no longer a combo deal. Nothing beats the rested feeling and joy of having a good night’s sleep.
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Going for long walks
Imagine taking long walks or hikes in the country with your family, without being crippled by the dull ache of your unbearable back pain. Sure sounds great, doesn’t it?
Make lifestyle changes
It IS possible to prevent or minimize the recurrence of back pain by changing your daily routine. After seeing your doctor in order to rule out any serious disc or nerve issues, you can first try some simple things like switching your current sleeping positions to those that place less pressure on your neck, hips and lower back – all of which can cause back pain when under pressure.
While over-the-counter painkillers may help to keep the pain under control temporarily, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not suitable for everyone long-term. Regardless of any pain management plan you may ultimately be following, lifestyle changes are very important to reaching a pain-free goal.
Sleep sideways
Tuck a pillow between your knees while sleeping on your side, this will facilitate proper alignment of your spine and prevent back pain during the night.
Exercise
One of life’s natural pain relief solutions. Get up and get moving, keeping your joints fluid and your weight healthy can eliminate unnecessary strain on your back.
Relax and stay positive
Stress causes muscle tension and can worsen your back pain. Being in a relaxed state of mind may help alleviate your pain.
Watch your diet
Excessively spicy food and fast food causes strain on your nervous and digestive system, which in turn may eventually lead to back problems. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight keeps your spine in good shape.
Maintain proper posture
Slouching over a computer or cell phone screen all day is damaging to your neck and back, which could be a potential cause of your back pain. Taking short breaks from your screens and stretching regularly will help maintain the natural curves of your spine.
Exercises to try at home
Staying active is one of the most important things you can do to speed up your recovery. By maintaining your normal activity level, your back pain will begin to improve eventually.
Below are some of the exercises you can try at home to strengthen your back, core, and leg muscles. Strengthening the right muscle group will offer support to your spine and relieve your back pain.
Lower Abdominal Strengthening
Weak lower abdominal or core muscles may sometimes lead to lower back pain.
Lie on your back and bend your knees. Place your feet flat on the floor and bring one knee in towards your chest and hold. Return to the starting position and repeat this exercise six to eight times on each leg.
Deep Abdominal Strengthening
This exercise will help you strengthen your transverse abdominis muscle group, which supports the lower back. A weak transverse abdominis could be the cause of your back pain.
To begin, lie on your back and place a small cushion under your head. Bend your knees and keep your feet hip-width apart. Place your feet flat on the floor while keeping your upper body relaxed and your chin gently tucked in. As you breathe out, try to draw your navel in towards your spine. Maintain the gentle contraction for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat five times.
Pelvic Tilt
Lie on your back and place a small pillow under your head. Bend your knees while keeping your feet hip-width apart. Place your feet flat on the floor, make sure that your upper body is relaxed and your chin is gently tucked-in.
Begin flattening your lower back into the floor and contract your stomach muscles. Tilt your pelvis towards your heels until you feel a gentle arch in your lower back, after contracting your back muscles, return to the starting position. Repeat eight to twelve times.
Your next steps to regain your quality of life
Back pain does not have to be unbearable and it is not necessary for you to forego the pleasures in life. If your current treatment plan and home remedies are not working for you, perhaps it is time for you to switch things up and explore other options.
So you can find the right solution for your chronic back pain, you will need to see the correct pain management specialists who can create a customized treatment plan for you that won’t risk your health.
MidSouth Pain Treatment Center provides minimally invasive interventional pain management procedures.
From our unique HF10 Therapy to individualized interventional treatment plans, there is bound to be something that works for you that can get you back to your old self.
Book an appointment with MidSouth Pain Treatment Center today in any of our branches near you in Tennessee and Mississipi to discuss your options and get the support that you need, to live a full life again without back pain.
Click here to request a consultation with us today.