Unless it is an injury where you have to relax, a bad back doesn’t mean you get to sit around all day. You need to keep moving around, otherwise your muscles seize and it makes the pain worse.
Don’t be afraid to walk around and even do some light exercise. Keep it light though. Swimming is a great option since it will ease and strengthen the muscles without too much impact.
Help the muscles to relax and ease by having a warm bath. It doesn’t need to be too hot; in fact, too hot can make it worse when you are getting out of the bath.
Enjoy a soak; it will help ease the rest of your body and just give your mind time to unwind. If you don’t have a bath in your home, consider a warm shower instead.
Sticking with the theme of heat, place a heat pack on your back. Like the warm bath water, it will really help to ease your muscles.
You can use a hot water bottle instead but make sure you don’t put the heat directly onto your skin! There is the option of alternating between hot and cold depending on what you find is better to ease the swelling and pain.
Right now you are just treating the symptoms and not the causes. You need to get to the root of the problem. Focus on the reasons for your back pain.
This will help you avoid it in the future and can help you make it easier to move around now. It could be due to heavy lifting or it may be your bed!
Even if you’re not sure if it is a bad night’s sleep, changing your mattress is a good thing to do. They do wear down over the years and old ones don’t support the body.
It could be worth investing in a memory foam mattress. These offer more support at the different parts of your body that have curves and need the extra support.
While you find the cause of the problem and look for ways to help you, it could be worth taking some light painkillers.
Paracetamol is a great option if you are looking for something quick and easy. Just a couple now and again will usually be enough to help you get on with your life.
Avoid rushing back into work full time and don’t do any of that heavy lifting.
The muscles will still be tender and you don’t want to strain them. Take your time and build the strength up so the back pain doesn’t come back.
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