Elma is only 35 years and she says she could not participate in her active lifestyle with her kids any longer, because she cannot stand or sit for long, cannot bend or travel much. She has to be at home and lie down most of the time. She says her lower back pain has caused her to lose most of her active life. The shooting and pinching pain at base of her spine has made her suffer greatly. She gets little relief from steroids and painkillers leaving her in discomfort constantly.
There are tens of thousands in this world suffering, just like Elma. Many think there is no cure for this pain. Are steroids and prescription drugs enough for this type of pain relief?
There are answers to this type and many other types of pain. Before we go any further, we need to understand the cause and types of lower back pain.
* Accidental- stress, strain, excessive jerking motion, injury or trauma can cause such pain to start.
* Incidental-Conditional, this can be both physical and physiological. For instance lower back pain in early pregnancy or after surgical operation.
* Degenerative- With aging or bone depletion, disc between the vertebrae can become injured and loose the hydration. Also the loss of calcium in older persons or those that are not physically active, can contribute to a degenerative situation. Sometimes the discs can herniate and put pressure on nerves in the lower back, this can lead to pain down the lower back into the legs known as sciatica.
Chronic low back pain can be hereditary.
Now that you know some of what causes back pain, let's see how some preventive steps may help you:
* Balance your weight. This is very important. A proper body mass index and weight is crucial when it comes to back pain. Being obese is a growing problem associated with back pain.
* Stay flexible, exercise and stretch in morning and before bed if at all possible. ? Strengthen your back muscles through physical exercise or treatment to avoid any injury to your spine, consult your doctor or healthcare worker before you start any exercise program.
* Create good posture through sitting at ninety degrees and standing in 180 degrees if at all possible.
* Lifting heavy things requires good technique, bending at knees using your legs and not your back is a start to keeping your back healthy.
* Ooze out stress through meditation, yoga or any other type of beneficial program that relives stress.
* A firm mattress has been shown to create a better sleep environment, there are many to choose from with a wealth of technology behind them to help you have a good night's rest.
