Lower Back Pain Do’s and Don’ts

by | Jan 13, 2015 | Chiropractic

Lower back pain can be a real hindrance, especially since it can occur at any time. But before you jump at the first self-help tips promising relief, you should know that it’s important to understand what can actually help and what can make your condition worse.

You can’t trust everything you read on the Internet about back pain treatment tips. Here’s a quick list of do’s and don’ts to help you make the right choices for your situation.

Should You Ice or Heat Your Back?

A lot of people are confused about whether they should heat or ice their backs when in pain. Ice is typically used to get rid of inflammation and swelling, which can relieve the discomfort. Because of the initial shock of the ice pack, a lot of people opt out of this method and use heat instead, which is often not the right decision. This draws blood to the location that is injured, which may already be suffering from inflammation and swelling. A combination of both heat and ice may be the ideal option, starting with ice and following it up with heat.

Should I Be Active or Sedentary?

It’s not a good idea to push through the pain after you have injured your lower back. It’s alright to be a little active, but keep it to a limit. Doing too much can prolong your injury. If you feel sharp pains throughout your lower back each time you bend over, then you need to stop whatever it is that you’re doing. Pre-activity stretches can help, but make sure to stick to motions that don’t irritate your condition.

Should I Visit a Chiropractor?

According to the blog of a chiropractor in Tempe, a recent study found that more than three out of every four people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
What’s the number one thing you should do when you have lower back pain? Visit a professional with the training necessary to identify and treat the sources of your discomfort. Dr. Omid Ferdowsian, the Lone Tree and Denver chiropractor at Governor’s Park Chiropractic, takes a multi-faceted approach to curing back pain. Fort Worth chiropractors at ChiroPlus Clinics also bring tons of skill and experience to the treatment of back pain.