Five ways to look after a bad back

by Leyla [Thisdayilove] - 13:41

This is a featured post.

I know first hand the pain from a bad back. I have experienced not been able to uncurl my back and stand up straight. I have been hit with such excruciating back pain that I couldn’t stand up and I know if I don’t get a good night's sleep that my back is going to suffer for it the next day.

One of the most important things with a bad back is to try and stay as active as possible. I appreciate that this can often be tricky but by staying active and continuing as normal as best you can you can actually speed up the recovery process. If the pain is too great you could try painkillers to help manage it so that you can continue.

Another way to help with a bad back is to use both heat and cold therapy. Some people find that heat works well to reduce their back pain. A hot water bottle for example is a great way to apply heat to the back. Other people find that cold therapy works better, however be careful with cold therapy and avoid applying it directly to the skin. A hot water bottle whilst lying in bed is a great way to apply heat therapy.

There are back stretches and back exercises which can be recommended to you from your GP or physiotherapists. Performing these stretches can help keep your back strong and again will help with recovery. Other forms of exercises such as swimming, yoga or even pilates can also be good to help keep mobile with back pain.

One of the ways I find works with back pain is to relax and trying to remain positive. Stressing causes the muscles to tense which in turn makes the condition worse, keeping a positive mind sight can help to reduce the stress. I also know that if I don’t get a good night's sleep that my back pain will be worse as I haven’t managed to relax and unwind. One of the best ways to ensure this is to have an orthopaedic mattress. Investing in a good mattress can help you to relax and ensure a good night's sleep, which in turn helps to reduce stress and reduce the tension caused in your back.

Having the correct mattress also ensures you have the correct support needed for your back. Looking after a bad back can often be as simple as going back to what is causing the pain in the first place. This could be posture, so looking at your posture as you sit and walk may help alleviate some of the back pain.

Back pain can be incredibly frustrating and painful and getting to the cause is not often straightforward. Trying some of the ideas above may help to improve symptoms however if the pain persists then it is worthwhile revisiting the GP as they may be able to offer you further advice.