Lower Back Pain Treatment At Home
QI Spine Clinic, 4 years ago
Are you suffering from bouts of lower back pain?
If yes, then read further to know the lower back pain self-care measures that can be applied at home easily.
Can you treat lower back pain at home?
Yes, you can. Lower back pain makes it difficult to start and keep going with your daily activities. Generally, lower back pain can occur due to mechanical or non-mechanical reasons which include poor posture,
herniated disc, muscle weakness/inefficiency,
muscle strain, trauma,
spinal arthritis, etc. It usually gets resolved within a few days. But if it lasts longer then you must seek medical attention. You may also try self-care measures for lower back pain at home to get rid of the pain.
How to relieve lower back pain at home?
When lower back pain starts hampering your day-to-day activities and interferes with your quality of life, several self-care measures can be followed to treat lower back pain. Depending on your severity of low back pain, you may try the following measures:
Lower back pain home treatment measures
- Cold and heat therapy – It’s best to use cold compression or ice packs if you have acute lower back pain as it can help in alleviating pain by numbing the area and reducing the swelling. Applying hot fomentation or a hot-water bottle to your back may also be helpful if your lower back pain is chronic in nature. The warmth soothes and relaxes the muscles. It also increases the blood flow which aids the healing process. You can use cold or heat therapy as the first line of treatment for lower back pain.
- Limited bed rest – Limit your bed rest when you have lower back pain. If you are suffering from pain then a person’s first step is to take rest. However, to the contrary, longer bed rest doesn’t help in relieving pain instead it may lead to stiffness and might increase the pain. Thus, the sooner you move or indulge in light exercise, the faster you may recover. But if your pain is severe and acute in nature, take bed rest as this might help in relieving your pain.
- Stay active – Keeping yourself physically active is the key to lower back pain treatment at home. Exercises aid in building strong, flexible muscles that will help in supporting the spine, be less prone to injury, and also assist in the healing process. A typical exercise regime might include aerobic activity, strength training, flexibility exercises, and a few stretching exercises. Exercises also help in improving function and preventing future problems. You may indulge in regular walking, swimming, cycling, etc.
- Pain medications – One of the effective measures in providing pain relief than rest are over-the-counter pain killers. Lower back pain can be reduced by (NSAIDS) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs have anti-inflammatory effects that help in reducing the pain. Another way to treat lower back pain is by using muscle relaxants. Topical creams, sprays, gels, and patches are also available that provide relief from pain.
- Massage therapy – A therapeutic massage that relaxes aching muscles. Herbal oil massage can help in muscle relaxation and may provide relief from lower back pain.
- Acupuncture – It is a therapy wherein thin needles are inserted into precise points through the skin to release blocked energy.
- Yoga – It can help improve the flexibility of back muscles. It also relieves stress and improves quality of life.
- Diet – Watch what you eat. Diet is one of the essential components in lower back pain treatment at home. You should avoid certain foods such as sugary drinks, fried foods, processed snacks, high-fat dairy products, etc. Avoid over-eating or over-snacking and follow a healthy, balanced nutritious diet. Keep a track of your body weight and maintain a healthy weight. Try including foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy fats beans, and legumes in your meal and routine diet.
- Watch out for your posture – Bad posture is one of the major reasons for lower back pain. Thus, correcting your posture and avoiding slouching is one of the advice which will help in preventing lower back pain. Be careful while lifting heavy objects.
- Ergonomics – Adopt good ergonomics in your workplace or design your home workspace ergonomically to prevent lower back pain. Use a chair that supports your lower back and lets your feet lodged firmly on the floor. Do not hunch forward to see your laptop screen or computer monitor.