Low Back Pain Relief

There are many possible causes of low back pain from muscle strain or spasms to sprains of the ligaments, joint problems or slipped disk (herniated/degenerated disk). But while there is no definitive reason as to why four out of five people develop low back pain, there are definite steps that you can take to provide low back pain relief.

Rest Your Back

Most healthcare professionals and therapists suggest bed rest as the first step in providing low back pain relief. But take note that this method should only be done for two days and no longer. The reason is that prolonged inactivity due to extended bed rest may cause secondary complications, such as depression, muscular atrophy, weakness, and other conditions, to arise.

To achieve low back pain relief, the best position is to lie on your back on the floor. Place pillows under your knees so that your hips and knees are slightly bent. Another way of resting your back for low back pain relief is to prop your feet on a chair. Place the pillows on the seat of the chair and place the back of your legs over it with your back flat on the floor.

Both these positions will help take weight and pressure off your back, thus providing low back pain relief.

Heating Pads and Ice Packs

Following trauma, the person should apply an ice pack or compress over the injured area. Do this for up to 20 minutes several times every day. If you still do not achieve low back pain relief after two to three days of cold treatment, use a heat pack. This will help relax the muscles and increase blood flow, speeding up recovery.

Medications

A variety of nonprescription drugs that provide low back pain relief are available in most drug stores. These drugs include analgesics or pain killers, anti-inflammatory and swelling, such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis), and ibuprofen (Motrin).

Sit Properly

One of the many causes of low back pain is improper posture. In order to provide low back pain relief, sit properly in chairs with straight backs or have a low back support. To take the weight off your back, keep your knees a little higher than your hips by resting your feet on a low stool for instance or adjusting the seat. And when you turn, move your whole body instead of twisting your waist.

Low back pain relief may also be achieved even while driving. Sit straight and move the car seat forward. This will provide low back pain relief by removing the necessity of leaning forward in order to reach the controls. A rolled up towel or a pillow placed behind your lower back may also provide low back pain relief.