Coping With Perennial Back Pain

September 21, 2012 by

Aside from being closely related to me and being among the people I love the most, my mother, two of my sisters, and my husband have another thing in common – they all suffer from back ailments. Scoliosis, spondylosis, disc dessication, slipped discs, mild foraminal stenosis…the list goes on and on. Suffice it to say that they all experience perennial backaches.

None of them want to resort to surgery just yet and are instead taking measures to keep their conditions from worsening. Some diet modification was done to keep their weights at the normal range and physical therapy was recommended. Also, here are some of the methods they use to alleviate back pain:

Medication. Both my husband and my sister take muscle relaxants and pain relievers for persistent back pains. When the pain is excruciating, they’ve even thought to buy concentrates, as cannabis is said to help relieve chronic pain. If this is something you are currently suffering from, this may be worth doing some research into.
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Therapy. Treatment may include ultrasound, heat pads, traction, stretches on machines, and TENS. These are the sorts of treatments that you could give a go if you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault before seeking legal advice, as your health should be your top priority. With that being said, speaking to a lawyer is very important too, as they can help you get your life back on track.

They also receive instructions for home exercises where they are required to do leg raises, wall squats, lower back stretches, slow crunches, and others.

Special Mattresses. My sister’s physician advised her to take a look at lower back pain mattresses since they are specifically to prevent back pain. She followed her physician’s advice and she’s stopped having back pains now! I don’t remember though whether she chose to get a memory foam mattress or just opted for a memory foam mattress topper. Hubby and mom, on the other hand, are more comfortable with a Permahard mattresses.

Massages. My husband calls his masseuse at least once a week. He also has a back massager with infrared for heat which he uses before he sleeps at night. He uses a special liniment to relax his muscles during his massages. Before trying this, however, it might be a good idea to consult a chiropractor low back pain specialist to make sure you don’t make it any worse.

Acupuncture. Only my eldest sister has tried acupuncture. However, she found relief only for a few hours after each session. According to the Korean doctor/acupuncturist, he could do nothing about my sister’s condition as he could only fix back pain caused by stress or muscle strain.

Thankfully, none of their conditions necessitate undergoing surgery. Hopefully, with proper diet, exercise, and therapy, they will be able to manage their back ailments without having to resort to any surgical operation.

Disclaimer: This post is part of a campaign for Healthy Back. However, all opinions and views are entirely my own and are based on my personal experiences.

Filed Under: for DAD & MOM, Mom's Corner, Mommy Talk, Products We Love Tagged With: ,

Quick Workout Without Leaving Your Desk

July 23, 2011 by

Most moms I know who work at home often complain of neck and back pains. So, do most people who spend hours working on their office tables. Some of them who do suffer with back and neck pain took it upon themselves to do a quick search into something like chiropractor great barr (if they lived near this area) of the UK, to find out from a specialist how to effectively treat these uncomfortable pains. No one should have to deal with this every day of their lives, but this is the reason that professionals in this particular field exist. These pains are mostly caused by unusually long periods of sitting. Call center agents, for one, stay seated for long periods of time and most hardly get any exercise due to their work schedules.

Here are some exercises you can do at home or in the office, WITHOUT leaving your chair. Breathe easily and comfortably while doing the exercises. Stretch rather than bounce or jerk with each exercise.

NECK RANGE OF MOTION EXERCISES

  • Forward and Backward Bends. Sit straight with shoulders relaxed. Bring chin to chest, then bend head back. Do this 10 times.
  • Rotation. Sit straight with shoulders relaxed and chin parallel to the floor. Turn head to the right then to the left. Do this 10 times.
  • Side Bending. Sit straight with shoulders relaxed. Bend neck to one side, bring ear towards the shoulder. Repeat on the other side. Do this for 10 times.

STRENGTHENING OF NECK MUSCLES

  • Forward Bending. Place palm of hand on forehead. Resist attempt to bend neck forward (no motion takes place). Count for 6 seconds. Then slowly release tension. Do this 10 times.
  • Backward Bending. Place hands behind head. Resist attempt to bend head backwards. Count for 6 seconds. Then slowly release tension. Do this 10 times.
  • Side Bending. Place hand on one side of head. Resist attempt to bend head on that side. Count for 6 seconds. Then slowly release tension. Repeat on the other side. Do this 10 times.
  • Rotation. Place hand on corner of forehead. Resist attempt to turn head on that side. Count for 6 seconds. Then slowly release tension. Do this 10 times.

STRETCHING OF NECK MUSCLES

  • Sideward Stretch. Place hand on corner of forehead with the forearm going over the head. Pull head to the opposite side. Hold and count for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Do this 3 times.
  • Backward Stretch. Place hands in a closed fist position under your chin and push up. Hold and count for 30 seconds. Do this 3 times.
  • Forward Stretch. Place both hands behind your head. Push down head toward floor. Hold and count for 30 seconds. Do this 3 times.
  • NECK TUCKS. Sit straight with shoulders relaxed and chin parallel to the floor. Pull head back by tucking chin in. Do this 10 times.
  • SHOULDER CIRCLES. Bring shoulders up to ears, then down. Do this 10 times. Do circles with your shoulders 10 times as well.

These exercises can be done in 10-15 minutes and can help alleviate your neck and back pains if done regularly. So, take a few minutes off and put those neck muscles to work. Now!

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