There are few things in this world as debilitating as back pain. After all, your back is responsible for providing structure and stature to your body. It’s needed for essentially every move you make.
Chronic back pain can ruin hobbies, exercise habits, and life in general. If you experience this type of pain, you need to find a way to effectively manage it.
How do you manage back pain? Here are 7 effective methods to consider.
1. Get Adequate Amounts of Sleep
If you suffer from chronic back pain, one of the most important things to do is to get adequate amounts of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can lower your threshold for pain, causing you to feel your pain more intensely.
You should be getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. If you have trouble sleeping, it’s recommended that you seek the help of a doctor.
2. Apply Heat and Cold Regularly
Chronic back pain is principally caused by one thing: inflammation. Fortunately, you can help to reduce this inflammation with the use of cold and heat.
By applying cold packs to your back on a regular basis, you not only reduce inflammation, but soothe the nerves in your back as well. By applying a hot towel to your back, you improve the quality of your blood flow. As blood makes its way to your back, it delivers nutrients which relieve pain and heal ailments.
3. Stretch!
Regardless of whether or not you have back pain, you should be stretching on a regular basis. Stretching keeps your muscles and joints loose, allowing them to expand and contract without the danger of impairment.
If you experience back pain, you shouldn’t only partake in back stretches. It’s important to perform stretches which target every muscle in your body.
4. Engage in Core Exercises
One of the most effective ways to manage back pain is to maintain good posture. Good posture can be more easily achieved if the muscles in your core are sturdy and strong.
For this reason, you should be engaging in core exercises on a regular basis. These exercises include everything from crunches, to planks, to push-ups, and much, much more.
5. Meditate
It’s important to note that pain is not only a physical phenomenon, but a mental one as well. While physical exercises will certainly go a long way in curbing back pain, psychological ones need to be employed also.
Meditation involves the idea of mindfulness; an idea which involves focusing on what is present and happening in the current moment. Engaging in meditation allows you to take your mind off of what is ailing you, relieving your pain.
6. Acupuncture Treatment
Another way to manage your back pain is by taking part in acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is a medical process which involves having tiny needless pressed into your body.
These needles target pressure points, releasing important body chemicals, and allowing for more consistent blood flow. When done on a regular basis, acupuncture treatment can do a great deal to relieve back pain.
7. See an Osteopathic Physician
If you’re having trouble managing your back pain on your own, it might be a good idea to see an osteopathic physician. Osteopaths manipulate the body in order to soothe joints and muscles, and to release important chemicals.
Using a whole-body approach, they can identify, target, and relieve back pain through a number of different medical means.
Seeking Out an Osteopathic Physician in Chicago?
If you’ve made it to this page, it’s likely because you or someone you know experiences chronic back pain. Are you on the search for an osteopathic physician in Chicago? If so, Feely Center for Optimal Health is the place to go.
Our physicians are trained in both osteopathic and traditional medicine, and are beyond experienced in managing the back pain of their patients.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
