Lower Back Pain – Solutions for Chronic Pain
Lower back pain is a serious problem for millions of people. It can be caused by any number of things including a form of arthritis. Lower back pain is characterized by pain that starts in the back and may go down one or both legs. The pain may also increase when there’s a lot of mobility or physical activity. Lower back pain can get worse when you have to stand or sit for long periods of time. Sitting can be a problem when you’re traveling long distances in a car or on an airline flight. When this is the case, it’s important to get up and walk around or make frequent stops in the car to move around and keep from getting stiff and sore.
When you have lower back pain, you may have a sensation of weakness or feelings of numbness if a nerve in the back is compressed. You’d experience the numbness in the portion of the leg that gets its nerve supply from that section of the back. When this type of lower back pain is present, you might not be able to move or flex your foot properly. You might not be able to put your foot down firmly on the floor when you experience lower back pain. This is sometimes the case when the sacral nerve has suffered an injury or is compressed. If you have problems with the lumbar nerve, it can sometimes affect the movement of the big toe.
With chronic lower back pain, there are ways to manage the pain in addition to using prescription medications. Some people have massage therapy for lower back pain when they have problems sleeping or with movement caused by arthritis. Done on a regular basis, massage therapy can increase mobility and ease the pain associated with arthritis. For chronic lower back pain that prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep, you can try lying on your side and placing a pillow between your knees. This will help to relieve pressure on your back. Sleeping on a mattress that’s firm rather than soft will also help your pain levels.
If you have to sit at a desk at work for long periods of time and have lower back pain, make sure your posture is good when sitting. If you have lower back pain after sitting for extended periods, get up and move around every couple of hours. Place a pillow at your back to prevent slouching. If you don’t want to take prescription drugs, homeopathic medications on the market can alleviate the pain.
