Tips For Back Pain Sufferers
5 Tips For All Back Pain Sufferers, by Chiropractor Dr Joe Abbott
Studies show that 95% of us will experience back pain at some point in our lifetime, and more of us are suffering from it at the moment due to the pandemic. Here are my top 5 tips for all back pain sufferers!
Positivity is key
Back pain can be scary, unpleasant and depressing. However, it is very rarely serious and 98% of cases recover, so next time you suffer from pain try to take a metaphorical step back from it. Remember that you will get through this!
Stay out of bed, stay at work and keep moving
In the past, bed rest was commonly prescribed for back pain (along with a strong dose of pain-killers). We now know that prolonged bed rest is the worst thing you can do. Avoidance of activity can lead to higher pain levels and poorer recovery, so for the first few days try to avoid aggravating activities, but after that stay as active as you can. Move freely and keep working.
Exercise and Activity Prevent Back Pain
Exercise and physical activity is the best pain reliever and preventer we have, so get as much as you can! It doesn’t matter what exercise you do as long as it’s enjoyable and meaningful to you. So, if you enjoy yoga - do that! If you hate running - don’t do that! If you love deadlifts - do those! If you used to enjoy swimming….. you get the idea! Just get moving and remember to start slowly and build up the amount and intensity of exercise. Before long, you’ll be stronger, fitter and pain-free.
Sleep It Off
Bed rest is bad, but sleep is perfect for pain. Try to get at least 8 hours in a dark and quiet room. I can guarantee a good nights sleep will go a long way to helping you recover. Sometimes the pain can worsen in the mornings because you’ve not moved for a long time, but that’s ok! See a good nights sleep as a reset for your mind, body and pain. Check out our top tips for sleeping with back pain.
5. You Rarely Need a Scan or Surgery
Most back pain will get better, and getting a scan will often show perfectly normal changes to our spine which we don’t need to see. Seeing these changes can even scare us to stop doing the activities which will make us better.