Almost anything can cause lower back pain in men and women. Carrying extra weight throughout pregnancy, pulling a muscle doing some heavy lifting, carrying the kids around, and even a sharp movement can cause pain in your lower back.
Most people find relief using over-the-counter pain relievers for short-term pain, but others find their pain lasts a bit longer than a few doses of pain medications can relieve. If you’re suffering from back pain that requires some additional attention, consider the benefits of relaxing to help you ease the pain and feel better.
Massage Therapy
If your lower back pain is chronic, consider using massage therapy to help ease the pain. This could be massage therapy from a chiropractor or a massage therapist, or you could do a little homework and find the back massager options reviewed to use at home when pain is prominent.
Massage helps your body relax, and it can relieve some of the pain and the strain on your muscles. It’s not a foolproof way to get rid of pain in your back, but it’s certainly helpful when you’re working so hard to improve your quality of life and the pain you feel.
Practice Yoga
Yoga is relaxing, and it’s also good for your body. Everyone is a beginner at some point, which can cause you to feel as if you’re not good at the practice. However, the more you do it, the better you become at replicating the poses and doing them well.
Yoga is good for back pain anywhere in the back because it stretches and eases muscle pain. If you’re living with back pain, talk to your doctor about taking up the practice of yoga. You should never take up a new exercise routine without first speaking to your medical professional, but most people can do yoga if they’re able to modify their poses to work within their means.
Yoga helps you relax your muscles, and some poses are much better for back pain than others. The supine twist, sphinx pose, thread the needle, cat and cow, and downward dog are all good poses for low back pain. Taking a class with a certified instructor to help you with the poses is a wise idea. You’ll learn how to properly stretch your body, how to ease pain, and how to move your body correctly.
Get in the Hot Tub
If you don’t have a hot tub at home, consider investing in one for your family. The hot water combined with the pulsing jets can help you relax, and it can ease some of your back pain. If a hot but isn’t in the budget, you can take a hot bath or shower to help relieve some pain in your lower back. The hot water and the pressure from the water help relieve the muscle tension you’re feeling. Not only that, but showering and bathing are both relaxing activities that help you unwind and calm down.
Since most people live such active and harried lifestyles, the change in pace is good for your body. Even if your shower or bath is only a few minutes, the relaxation is invaluable to your body. The more you do it, the more it helps.
Try Aerobic Exercise
Exercise is good for the body, even if you feel it’s difficult with low back pain. The body releases endorphins when you exercise, and it allows you to focus on the good things in your life. Exercise helps eliminate the stress hormones you’re feeling by replacing them with endorphins that increase your good mood and lower your stress.
Less stress can cause back pain to feel less painful. Stress causes people to feel tense and unhappy, and that can have a lasting effect on your muscles. If the tension is too much, you might find aerobic exercise is helpful due to the lack of stress, the added endorphins, and the exercise in general. It’s important you keep your exercise routine inside the aerobic family to avoid too much pressure on injured muscles.
When your body has more endorphins, it helps block the signal transmitted from pain. It’s helpful, it’s more comfortable, and it’s going to allow you to feel better. If your back pain has you feeling down and depressed, exercising can also help you alleviate some of those feelings. Your life is going to improve if you begin exercising more regularly.
Correct Sleep Problems
Your pain might make it difficult for you to sleep, but your lack of sleep is making your back pain more prevalent. It’s a vicious cycle, and it can make you feel helpless and overwhelmed. Your back pain issues won’t go away if you’re not sleeping well, but you’re sleeping is affected by the pain. Now is the time to speak with your doctor to help you alleviate sleep problems. If you suffer from insomnia or some other issue affecting your sleep, your doctor might be able to help.
When your body is well rested, your back pain won’t feel so bad. Some simple tips to help you sleep better might be effective in your life. Turn off your electronics and bright lights and screens at least one hour prior to bed.
Don’t eat too late at night, and don’t have caffeine or alcohol more than few hours prior to your bedtime. Go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time each morning. This helps you promote healthy sleep habits, and that might help with your back pain.
Lower back pain is a problem for so many people, but it doesn’t have to be a problem. By taking measures to relax your body, you can ease a lot of your pain and change your life. Life is stressful, but relaxing can handle some of that. Let your back pain take a back seat to feeling good by employing these techniques and adding them to your everyday lifestyle.