Lulling Lower Back Pain

This past summer I got a lecture from my aunt on how my posture needed work. “Natasha, sit like this.” My aunt sat elegantly with a straight back. I couldn’t copy her posture for all the tea in China. After prodding me some more, she finally gave up. But I do need to improve my posture before my lower back becomes an issue of pain.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience low back pain at any given time. In fact, low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missing work. Some experts estimate 80 percent of the population will experience a back problem at some point in their lives. And Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain.

Symptoms can be anywhere from muscle aches to shooting, burning sensations that may spread to your legs or get more intense from walking, standing, bending, twisting or lifting. Back pain can be caused or complicated by accidents, sports injuries, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress. Back pain may be indicative of other medical conditions such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

Some risk factors for back pain include:

·       Lack of exercise

·       Excess weight

·       Age

·       Smoking

·       Psychological conditions

·       Undiagnosed medical conditions

Some studies suggest a genetic component to low back pain. But there is good news: most patients with acute low back pain recover quickly and only 10 to 15 percent develop chronic symptoms. What’s more, most cases of low back pain are not related to serious illnesses.

There are some measures you can take to prevent back pain such as:

1.     Watch your weight.

2.     Exercise, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

3.     Stop being sedentary all the time.

4.     Don’t forget to stretch before engaging in physical activity.

5.     Protect your posture. Make sure you are sitting correctly.

6.     Choose comfortable shoes to wear if you can.

7.     Learn the proper way to lift objects. Lift with your knees with the object close to your body.

8.     Sleep on a firm mattress.

9.     Stock up on vitamin D. Several studies have shown bone and muscle pain may be linked to vitamin D deficiency. So soak up that sun, eat fortified foods and take supplements if needed.  

I don’t usually suffer from back pain but I will work on my posture just in case. I can only imagine how devastating the condition is for those who suffer with it. But back pain doesn’t have to be lifelong sentence. The condition can be alleviated the right way.

If you suffer from back pain, please let me know what you do to lessen the pain.