Millions of people experience back pain every day, and many realize there is no single best treatment for all cases. Instead, it is possible to use different approaches, especially one that fits their specific health conditions. Furthermore, other patients prefer non-medicinal treatment or want to add complementary care for improved pain reduction. Learn more about non-medicinal treatments to back pain and why a visit to a mattress store is one of them.
Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments to Back Pain
Get an Endorphin Boost
One way to reduce pain is to release your happy hormone, endorphin, through physical activity. Endorphins can be as strong as pain medication in blocking the pain signals sent to your brain. Furthermore, endorphins can diminish stress and anxiety which have been connected to chronic back pain. Get your endorphins pumping through aerobic exercise, walking, running, or dancing.
Strengthen the Core
A strong core is critical to supporting your back. Usually, core muscles don’t get sufficient exercise during regular activities which means you have to set aside time for working them out. Some abdominal exercises that you can do are seated leg lifts, sit-ups, and bicycle crunches. Do these exercises for 20 to 30 minutes every day or at least four times a week for a stronger core that can support your back better.
Use Hot or Cold Packs
Hot or cold packs can help reduce back pain and, when injured, can stimulate the healing process. Cold therapy has two benefits: it decreases inflammation and serves as an anesthetic that slows down nerve impulses which cause spasms and pain. Heat therapy also has health benefits including stimulating blood flow and inhibiting pain signals from reaching the brain.
Visit a Mattress Store and Buy a New Mattress
Sometimes, the back pain you are experiencing is because of an old, lumpy, or sagging mattress that can no longer support the curvatures of your back. The solution then is to buy a new one that is medium firm, not too soft or too hard. A recent study showed that a medium-firm mattress can help treat and prevent back pain compared to a very firm one. Visit a mattress store that has a wide range of mattresses that you can test for at least 10 minutes in order to find a suitable replacement for your old bed.
Back pain can be treated in several ways including non-medicinal options but remember to consult your doctor first before trying any of them. Besides endorphin boosters, core exercises, and hot/cold therapy, buying a new mattress can help alleviate back pain. A medium firm mattress offers a good night’s sleep which might just be the missing element to a complete treatment approach for back pain.
Sources:
“6 Overlooked Remedies for Lower Back Pain Relief,” Spine-Health.com
“Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain,” WebMD.com
