Dealing with Back Pain

Have you ever had a backache? It’s almost impossible to get anything done, especially if the pain is severe. It even makes it hard to use the computer. There are a variety of causes, and some of them require different treatments. In fact, at times, treatment is fairly individual. What works on you may not work on me, even if we have the same problem.

One of the first questions that come up is which to use, heat or ice? The answer is both, at the appropriate time. If the problem is an injury, ice is most important, at least at first. It will reduce inflammation and ease pain. After the first forty-eight hours, alternating heat and ice is very helpful.

This question should also be applied to exercise, including physical therapy when dealing with a back injury. Not all patients can do a proper warm up, exercise and then do a proper cool down. In order to simulate that, try using a heating pad or hot water bottle for warm ups, then use ice for the cool down.

When it comes to pain killers, it’s important to be very choosy. Over the counter NSAIDs each come with different side effects and interactions. As an example, both aspirin and naproxen can cause a serious upset stomach. If you’re taking aspirin for heart problems, you can’t take it with either naproxen or ibuprofen. The last two will lessen the effect of the aspirin.

Prescription pain killers also come with problems. Most of them cause serious drowsiness, so driving and other potentially hazardous activities may be impossible. They are also addicting.

One of the best things you can do for your back is to avoid injuring it. There are simple things that you can do that will make back pain less likely to occur. One is posture. If you slouch, you’re putting everything in your back out of alignment. Some muscles will be stretched and others condensed. Even your spinal column suffers from slouching over time.

Another is proper lifting techniques. For most of us, the best way to lift something heavy is to bend at the knees and keep the back straight. I will grant that this action is hard to do if you can’t handle knee flexion under load. Under those circumstances, it’s a good idea to get someone else to do the lifting.

Even tying your shoes can lead to back problems. Again, this will probably happen over time, but it’s something to consider now. Bending over to tie them isn’t a good idea. Bring your foot to your hands instead.

None of us like pain, particularly not in the back. Following the above steps may help you recover from your injuries and prevent future ones.

If you do have or suspect a back injury, see your doctor. Some injuries may require medical help, and/or physical therapy. This article is not meant to take the place of your doctor.


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