You can get lower back pain relief in a variety of ways. First of all, you will need to get and accurate diagnosis of what is causing your lower back pain. This is important for finding the best lower back pain relief. A doctor might also administer an MRI of your lower back to know the cause of your pain.
What Causes It
Many cases of lower back pain are caused by muscle spasm. Muscle spasms are caused by sitting for long at the desk or sleeping on a mattress that does not provide the right back support. Even things like stress and tension can cause problems with your lower back. In these cases, lower back pain relief can be got from over the counter pain relievers. Medicines such as aspirin, naproxen sodium, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can provide relief by lessening pain and reducing swelling.
More serious lower back pain could be caused by injury to the spine. These types of injuries are usually the result of some type of accident or lifting and twisting at the same time. Spinal injuries can result in a herniated disc which may result in severe lower back pain. Symptoms can include sciatica or spinal stenosis. These conditions can cause considerable pain.
What To Do
You will need to take a day or two of rest, if your lower back injury is recent. This type of rest is not a cure for lower back pain because it can cause muscles to become stiff. This can lead to increased time to recover. You would be better off if you get up and walk around every hour even if it is just for a few minutes. This may be slightly painful, but it can be very helpful in finding lower back pain relief.
Over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines and pain relievers can help you ease the pain, but such medication should not be taken for long periods of time. Long term use of these medicines can cause a myriad of health problems like stomach ulcers. Some medications can even be addictive.
The best way to get lower back pain relief is exercise. Exercises specifically for lower back pain relief will bring you quick pain relief by strengthening the core muscles that support the spine. Exercise will also improve your flexibility and your posture. Aerobics that involve no impact can also offer a number of benefits, but you must focus on exercises that are safe. If you do not know if an exercise is safe you should consult a back pain specialist for advice.
Another great method of lower back pain relief is stretching exercises. You should do stretching slowly, focusing on your lower back, hips, quadriceps and hamstrings. While stretching exercises do cause minimal pain, this pain is from the muscles being stretched. If you feel pain in other areas or if the pain is intense you should stop immediately. If you do your stretching exercises correctly, you can increase the flexibility of your lower back by as much as 20% within just one month. This can bring significant lower back pain relief.