If you have ever experienced back pain, you understand how painful it can be. It can interfere with your life, making even daily tasks seem impossible. Whether you are experiencing chronic pain or pain from trauma, back pain shouldn’t be ignored. At Proactive Chiropractic and Rehab Center in Charlotte, we listen. We aim to find the root of your pain and create a treatment plan that works best for you.
How to Prevent Back Injuries
The best plan of action is the prevention of back injuries at home and in the workplace. To start, it’s best to avoid activities that reduce your overall health including smoking and poor posture. While at home, keep your house tidy and free from spills and other hazards that could cause a fall. Don’t lift heavy objects alone and make sure to use care when using ladders and step stools.
How to Prevent Back Injuries in the Workplace
While at work, you should always use proper lifting techniques to ensure you don’t injure your back. If you see something unsafe in your workplace, such as a spill or injury hazard, inform someone so it can be taken care of. Make sure you take breaks as needed to rest and if you work in an office, take some time to stretch often.
Most Common Back Injuries: Are They Serious?
Back pain can stem from many things such as a medical condition or an injury. Some of the most common back injuries include:
- Back strains and sprains
- Herniated disks
- Lumbar spine stenosis
- Spondylosis and spondylolisthesis
All of these injuries can have lasting effects on your back health. There are symptoms you may experience if your back injury is serious. These symptoms include:
- Pain lasting more than 6 weeks
- Pain radiates below the knee
- Pain that only occurs at night
- Suffering of a major trauma or violent injury
- Fever, chills or night sweats
All of these symptoms signal a serious injury that must be examined. Visit your family physician right away or schedule an appointment with a chiropractor at the first sign of pain.
Avoid Reinjuring Your Back With These Tips
One injury is bad enough. However, reinjuring your back can have lasting consequences. To avoid re-injuring your back you should:
- Stay active: Light exercise is good for your back, especially after an injury. However, make sure you’ve been cleared for exercise by your chiropractor prior to starting.
- Avoid heavy lifting: Lifting one single object can leave you back at the beginning of your injury. Avoid heavy lifting whenever possible and always ask for help.
- Improve your posture: If you work in an office, invest in an ergonomic chair to protect your lower back. Whether at home or at work, get up often to stretch and realign your posture.
- Heed the advice of your physician: Make sure you follow all instructions after your injury from your doctor or chiropractor. They know what is best.
Reinjuring your back can have worse effects than the initial injury. Stay aware of your pain and reach out to your chiropractor if you are experiencing more pain than normal or you fear re-injury.
What Should You Do When You’ve Hurt Your Back?
Maybe you’re playing golf when you twist wrong. Or, you are trying to lift a heavy object to no avail. Whatever the case, pain from a back injury can happen immediately. If you notice this pain, it’s best to stop what you’re doing and take these steps.
- Get into a pain-relieving position: Grab a chair and lay down on the floor with your feet propped up in the chair. You can also put a pillow underneath your legs. This position will take the pressure off of your lower back, something you want to do after an injury.
- Apply heat: Apply a heating pad to the injured area to help relieve soreness and pain. You can also try cold to numb the area.
- Call a chiropractor: Specially trained for these injuries, a chiropractor will know exactly what to do next to get you back to being pain free, without harmful drugs.
To fully recover from a back injury, it could take weeks or months depending on your injury. You can speed up the process by following all instructions, being careful to avoid re-injury and taking the time to heal.
What to Choose: Heat or Ice for Back Pain?
Both heat and ice have their benefits when it comes to back pain. For tightness in your back, it’s best to use heat. Heat is great for relief from muscle tension caused by strains and overexertion. For inflammation and cooling down after exercise, ice is best. Don’t use ice on a sprain or when experiencing tightness. It can cause your muscles to contract more, worsening your pain.
How Can a Chiropractor Help Your Back Pain?
Chiropractors use hands-on techniques such as spinal manipulation to help align the body’s musculoskeletal structure. This allows the body to heal itself without invasive procedures and harmful drugs. For back pain, chiropractors adjust the spine and joints to improve the motion and range, reducing stress that causes pain.
When a chiropractor detects a joint that needs adjusting, they will use quick and gentle stretching movements, resulting in cavitation or a cracking or popping sound. This popping sound isn’t your bones, but the sudden release of gasses inside air bubbles in the fluid surrounding your joints. Although a bit unnerving, a chiropractic adjustment is completely safe and able to provide relief almost immediately.
Call a Chiropractor Today for Relief
If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s time to get some relief. A chiropractor can help your body heal itself, without the harsh chemicals and invasive procedures. Get back to pain-free living by calling Proactive Chiropractic today at (704) 504-1770 or send us a message online.
