Are you searching for
Back Pain Remedies?
With the myriad of back pain remedies available, how do you know which ones to use? When your neighbor suggests to you what helped his sciatica symptoms, should you try it? Knowing what to try and what to avoid can mean the difference between getting out of pain or feeling worse.
What Back Pain Remedies should you avoid?
Let’s start by addressing those remedies that have a chance of making your lower back pain worse rather than better. We’ll focus on those remedies that do not require a doctor as they are the one’s people have a tendency to trying.
Hot Tubs/Hot Packs
As soothing as a nice soak in the tub sounds, it is more likely that it will either prolong your pain or make it worse. Why? Whenever there is pain, there is inflammation. Heat is associated with signs of increased inflammation. Thus, if you are experiencing pain, adding more heat to the area will increase the inflammation. So, as long as you are experiencing pain, stay away from the heat.
Analgesic Creams
You know these creams; Ben Gay, Icy Hot, and Aspercreme are the most common. The use of the creams themselves will not actually make your pain worse. The issue is that while these creams are effective in reducing pain, they do not address the cause of the pain. These creams work by stimulating superficial nerve endings, providing a sense of warmth and for some, temporary pain relief. While that might initially sound good, focusing your attention on using remedies that mask the pain rather than address the cause of your pain will only prolong your symptoms.
What Remedies Work?
Let’s move on to those remedies that can both help relieve your pain and address the cause of the symptoms.
Ice therapy
By far the safest and most effective thing you can do to help relieve lower back pain and
sciatica symptoms
is to use ice.
Ice therapy
reduces the inflammation that is associated with painful conditions. Lower back pain has both an inflammatory component (increased swelling and tissue irritation) and a mechanical component (tightness, stiffness, or weakness). Utilizing ice helps to address that inflammatory component. In addition, ice helps to relieve pain by decreasing nerve impulses that transmit pain signals to your brain. Ice is by far your best lower back pain remedy.
Exercise/Walking
Research indicates that one of the best means of reducing lower back pain is initiating a walking and exercise program. That being said, the research did not classify the type of lower back pain that walking best serves. Some lower back conditions such as
facet joint pain,
spinal stenosis,
and some times
degenerative disc disease
can be aggravated with extended standing and walking. To learn exercises for specific back conditions, click on this link:
back pain treatment.
What is the take home message? If walking feels good, do it frequently.
Stress Reduction
As vague as this sounds, studies indicate a strong associated between stress and lower back issues. The onset and recurrence of lower back pain most often occurs in times of stress. This is especially true of work related back pain. Those that suffer a back injury while working at job they do not enjoy take twice as long to get better. How can you reduce stress? It depends on you. If you need to go to the beach, pet your cat, or listen to relaxing music, do what you like to relax. Reducing stress will play a big part in reducing your lower back pain.
Acupuncture/Physical Therapy/Chiropractic
Research has indicated that all of these therapies can be effective in reducing lower back pain and improving function. The limitation is that they can be expensive if you have to pay for them on your own.
Joint Supplements
There is some research that supports the use of supplements for chronic (not acute) lower back pain. Glucosamine sulfate, vitamin B12 injections, and vitamin D have all shown to be effective in managing chronic low back pain. The limitation with the vitamin B12 is that it must be delivered via an injection.With the high incidence of lower back pain, the search for more back pain remedies will continue. Take caution with who is giving you advice. What works for one may not work for you. Follow the proven recommendations and you’ll be on the road to recovery in no time.
Return to Top
Return from Back Pain Remedies to Back Pain Treatment Home
|
