Back Pain: Simple and Effective Tips to Relieve Acute Discomfort
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Back pain is one of the most common complaints faced by a large portion of the population. However, three simple tips can help you get rid of annoying pain.
This is a common disease that can affect not only older people, but also young people - back pain. The reasons for its occurrence can be very diverse. For example, excessive stress, prolonged sitting, and simply poor posture can cause unpleasant pain and therefore significantly affect your quality of life. The following steps may help you relieve acute discomfort.
In most cases, acute back discomfort goes away on its own within a few days. If you can barely move from the pain in the first few hours, give yourself the rest you need, but avoid prolonged bed rest because it can make the pain worse. Instead, try to move as best you can despite the discomfort and go about your daily activities as much as possible.
Warmth helps.
Help yourself with warmth (such as a heating pad, warm compress, or hot bath), as well as relaxation and circulation-boosting exercises. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help relieve pain and help you relax and stay active. However, never take painkillers for more than two to three days.
A pose that will relieve pain.
Lie on your back, preferably on a warm blanket, and raise your legs. The shins should be placed at right angles to the thighs on a stand that should be the same height as the length of the thighs. For example, a sofa or a low stool is suitable for this.
Move.
Once the initial severe pain has subsided and you are a little more mobile again, you should try going for a walk. While most people avoid prolonged sitting or standing when experiencing acute back discomfort, walking is considered relatively comfortable. This is good for the back, as it relaxes the muscles and moves the spinal joints.
Back strengthening belt. Photo source: 123rf.com
When should you see a doctor?
If discomfort persists for more than three days, you should see a doctor to find out the cause. You should respond especially quickly to the following warning signs:
- severe pain in the sacrum and legs associated with symptoms of paralysis of the lower abdomen and legs;
- Loss of bladder and bowel control;
- Numbness of the inner thighs.
These symptoms occur with the so-called breeches syndrome, in which prolapsed intervertebral disc tissue presses on several nerve roots at once. This is a rare but dangerous situation in which only immediate surgery can prevent permanent nerve damage.