Dealing with constant back pain can interfere with your daily life. From having difficulty in completing household tasks or moving furniture, to not being able to take part in a sport or play with your kids (or grandkids) – every part of your day is affected by the pain in your back. You go out of your way to keep from agitating your back, which means you may do something you don’t normally do or refrain from doing something you enjoy. If you are suffering from back pain and this sounds a lot like your life, you are not alone.
The facts about back pain are staggering:
- Nearly 8 out of every 10 people will experience some sort of back pain at least once in their life.
- Lower back pain is the number one reason for disability.
- The majority of back pain sufferers (54%) report that they spend most of their day sitting.
- Back pain and back problems are more prevalent among women than men.
- Back pain complaints increase for women while pregnant; about half of woman report significant back pain at some point in their pregnancy.
- Over $50 billion dollars are spent every year on the treatment and management of back pain.
Treatment and management options are vast and can range from:
- Over the counter medications
- Heating pads
- Prescription medications
- Massages
- Surgery
- Steroid Injections
- Doctor visits
- Chiropractor visits
- Supportive pillows
- Back stretchers or traction devices
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices
In addition to the above, one can also employ some easier and more natural methods to reduce the stress on their back and alleviate some of the pain.
- Maintain a healthy weight through proper nutrition and exercise
- Avoid prolonged sitting (at work, take increment breaks to stand and stretch)
- Wear comfortable and proper fitting shoes
- Sleep on a medium-firm mattress to provide some support for your back
- Use proper lifting techniques to pick something from the ground up (lift with your legs!)
- Quit smoking – smoking can interfere with nutrient delivery to your discs
- Drink plenty of water to keep your spinal discs hydrated
