Back pain is something that many of us will have experienced at some point in our lives. Especially with how many of us are working from home now, our backs aren’t getting the support we need. Stop in for tips to help relieve your back pain.

Our back does a lot of work supporting our body and we can often forget just how fragile our body is, especially if we subject it to uncomfortable positions on a regular basis.

While chronic back pain is something that needs to be seen by a professional, infrequent back pain is something that you might be able to relieve by yourself. Through a combination of pain management techniques, alternative treatments, and lifestyle changes, you could potentially manage your pain by yourself.

Heat and cold patches

Studies have shown that heat and cold can actually relieve back pain. There are patches that you can buy which help keep an area cool or actually warm it up. You may need someone to help you apply the patch on your back if you can’t reach the area. This is a common technique to relieve muscle aches and stiff joints, but it also works for back pain.

Try alternative treatments

A visit to a chiropractic care provider or even a massage therapist can help you relieve pain that could be caused by stiff muscles or uncooperative joints. Manipulating your spine and working on your muscles are proven ways to deal with certain types of pain and it’s becoming a more accepted approach to pain relief.

Do some stretches throughout the day

Stretching is something that can actually help you relieve back pain by working your muscles. Holding a stretch for anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds can help you work the muscles and relieve tension. The exact stretches you do can change depending on the part of your back that is in pain. Some basic stretches include standing up and reaching down to your toes, you could also lay down on your stomach and stretch out your hands and feet.

Identify when the pain happens

In addition to just managing the pain itself, it’s a good idea to identify why that pain is occurring in the first place. Is it due to a sports injury from playing soccer? Is it because you don’t have a good posture when working at your computer? Is it being caused by your mattress when you sleep at night? Some of these situations are unavoidable, but it’s worth identifying why the pain happens in the first place. This helps when you approach your doctor about the pain and it means you can avoid certain activities that could directly lead to pain.

When in doubt, always seek a doctor

It can be tempting to try and manage your pain by yourself, but it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor. No matter how confident you are in your pain management techniques, you’ll have to speak with a professional at some point especially if it gets worse. If you experience chronic back pain, then it may be wise to seek out professional assistance because it could be a sign of something much worse.