Lower back pain can strike at the most inconvenient of times. When we’re stressed, run-down, tired or sad we often find that we have to deal with lower back pain on top of that. Lower back pain is caused by a strain in the muscles in the lower back. While it can be quite stressful and distressing to have this pain, most people will recover from lower back pain within a few weeks.
You may not need treatment
While lower back pain can be quite distressing, most of the time you won’t need to seek any treatment for the pain. Most people who experience lower back pain will find that their back pain is resolved within 4-6 weeks. Generally, you do not need to get any kind of x-ray, CAT scan or MRI to determine or treat your back pain. Even a scan does show the cause of your pain, this will likely not change how you will manage the pain.
Determine the cause of the pain
One of the best things you can do about back pain is to determine what is causing the back pain in the first place. Because of this, you can work to reduce the incidence of back pain in the future. If you know that you are getting pains in your lower back due to certain movements at work, this will be a prime time to have a look at your work and how you can improve how you work each day. From there it might be a case of changing the way you work or ensuring that you take the time to look after yourself a little bit more each day. Whether that means taking the time to get a massage or seek treatment from a therapist regularly, these types of pain management strategies may be helpful for you.
Remember to stay active
When we experience pain, one of the first things people think of is to rest. While this is important, it’s also good to remember that you need to keep active when you have lower back pain. Doing normal daily activities as much as possible is one of the most important things you can do to help manage lower back pain. You may feel a little bit of pain during some of your normal activities, but you aren’t damaging your back. The non-strenuous movement will help to settle any back pain but it will also help your back to get stronger with movement. Overall, staying active will help to reduce the pain and help to reduce the time needed off work to recover.
It’s important to remember to not overdo it. It’s important to pace yourself so that you participate in an activity that helps strengthen your back but doesn’t make your symptoms worse. Find an activity that you can do that is significant but doesn’t increase your pain. Walking is a very good option and many people also find that swimming is quite good for back pain. Swimming is a great low-pressure exercise that can help to strengthen your back. Increase your activity each day if it is possible. Of course, if you find that the activity is too strenuous or you are unsure of what activity is best for your level of pain and comfort, have a chat with your doctor about the best exercises for you.
Take over the counter medications
Some general pain relief, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are a good option for lower back pain. While these drugs won’t help you to heal quicker, they may be able to help reduce the pain that you are experiencing. It’s important to remember that these medications may not stop the pain altogether but rather they’re there to help reduce the pain so you can continue with your daily activities. These drugs are also only to be taken on a short-term basis unless advised by your doctor.
Another good option is the use of herbal sprays and liniments. These can help to reduce the pain that you’re experiencing in your lower back and the ingredients from these appointments and sprays are applied directly to the pain. Therefore, many people find that they are better because pain relief occurs a lot quicker. One of the best things about these types of medications is that they are often natural and make use of traditional medicines rather than harsh chemicals.
Remember, if you are experiencing severe pain in your lower back or the pain stops you from being able to do your daily activities, it’s important to have a chat with your doctor. They may be able to assess and determine whether you need any other medications or treatment to help relieve your pain.
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