What to Do When Your Sciatica Just Won’t Go Away
At any given time, millions of Americans are struggling with back pain due to sciatica. When this pain persists, your quality of life can deteriorate rapidly, which is why you should seek our help.
5 New Year’s Resolutions for a Life With Less Back Pain
As we enter a new year, it’s always a good time to take stock and make some improvements in your life. If you’re one of the 65 million Americans who report recently experiencing back pain, this is certainly a great place to start.
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability around the world, which probably comes as no surprise if you’re routinely dealing with the issue. Now, we want you to imagine a world in which back pain is no longer at the center of your life.
That world is available to you if you make this the year you tackle your back pain. To get you started, the team here at World Medical Group dba Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas presents five best practices that can go a long way toward releasing you from your back pain.
1. Get relief and get started
Dealing with back pain forces you into a Catch-22 situation: You know that movement and exercise is a great practice for it, but the present pain prevents you from doing much of anything.
A great first step is to make an appointment with us so that we can provide you with some much-needed pain relief that will allow you to move forward. For example, a quick epidural steroid injection can temporarily quiet the pain so that you can take longer-term steps to prevent more back pain.
2. Strengthen your back
Once we relieve your back pain, it’s time to strengthen this area. Your back isn’t made up of just your spine — there are core muscles that surround your spine that provide key support for your back. And the more you strengthen these muscles, the more you reduce your chances for painful nerve compression issues like sciatica and herniated discs.
To get started, here are 18 great exercises that support your back and prevent pain.
3. Straighten up
If you sit or stand for hours, please be mindful of your posture. You should always try to keep your spine in a straight and neutral position, which means:
- Keeping your shoulders back
- Placing your feet on the floor
- Keeping your head up
Whether sitting or standing, paying attention to posture can go a long way toward preventing back pain.
4. Lose excess pounds
Since we’re talking about New Year’s resolutions, let’s address one that’s on many lists — weight loss. If you’re carrying extra pounds, losing weight can not only boost your health, but it can also relieve a good deal of pressure on your back.
5. Check your sleeping situation
Humans spend a lot of time in bed, and you want to make sure that your back is well supported when you sleep. So, check your mattress to make sure it doesn’t sag and force your spine into an awkward position. As well, make sure your pillows aren’t cranking your head up. Try to sleep on your back or side. Sleeping on your stomach isn’t doing your back any favors.
For more great tips for relieving back pain in the new year and beyond, we’re happy to help design a customized plan for your specific needs. To get that ball rolling, please call or message one of our offices in Arlington or Fort Worth, Texas, today to schedule an appointment.
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