Whether you bent the wrong way when you were lifting something heavy, living with a degenerative condition, or you have simply reached a certain age, you now have to live with back pain. Or do you? Short of actually visiting a doctor and spending time and money to treat it, potentially even burdening the stomach with painkillers, you might want to try some less invasive, DIY ways to relieve it.
Back pain, whether lower or upper, can cause a host of other problems, and come from a minor annoyance to a major grievance, so it’s of utmost importance to deal with it if not promptly, then at least decisively. Usually, it will be caused by muscle overexertion, or some sort of spine injury, which then makes the vertebrae pressure the nerves. Whichever it is, the easiest and safest way is to take the load off your spine, if you’ll pardon the pun. So, with this in mind, here are 10 best products to help you fix a sore back.
Back Cushion
Short of going for an ergonomic chair, the best way to give your spine some support in case of a back pain, the right way to go would be a back cushion.You may have already tried supporting your lower back with your regular cushions, but those just won’t cut the cheese. What might is the Duro-Med Relax-A-Bac Lumbar Cushion.
On a similar note, you might want to try out a back pillow. To be honest, this is a bit of a misnomer, as this pillow type doesn’t really support your back, but rather encourages you to sleep on your side.If you’re a back sleeper, or worse yet (at least as far as your spine is concerned), and have problems with back pain, it might be a good time to switch to the side. As far as pillows go, try different types and see which one suits you best. One good recommendation would be the Sleep Innovations Contour Memory Foam Pillow.
Ergonomic Chair
While back cushions are a decent solution to the back pain problem, they are impractical in that you need to lug them everywhere.
This is just tiresome if you spend most of your time in one and the same chair. That’s why, in the long run, you should consider getting an ergonomic chair, and the Herman Miller Embody Chair fits the bill.Using this type of chair will improve your posture, helping you relieve or prevent back pain, as well as help you keep the blood pressure in check.
Back Massagers
If you’ve asked your family members to massage you once, then you’ve asked them a thousand times. Chances are, you’ve been rejected nine out of eight times. All jokes aside, having your back rubbed is a sure way to alleviate whatever pain and tension may have built up.
Of course, not every time will you have someone there to help you out, so having a back massager to do it yourself is a great boon. You can go battery-powered, but there’s no reason not to keep it simple.For a great non-powered back massager, check out the Body Back Buddy.
Inversion Table
An inversion table is the master of versatility when it comes to dealing with back pain. It helps with lower back pain, sciatica, as well as overall back discomfort. What it does is help you invert your body upside down, gently and slowly.
This relaxes muscles, relieves nerve pressure, and enhances blood circulation, thereby reducing the overall pain. One sure way to go about getting one is trying out the Teeter EP-560 Inversion Table. Most of Teeter Hang Ups’ products do cost a pretty penny, but they’re well worth it. Consider it a long-term investment in your health.
Back pain Relief Mattress
Even if your back problems do not come from using the wrong mattress, changing the current one can go a long way to dealing with this problem. It’s imperative to consult an expert when choosing the right mattress for you, as many thingscan influence the choice – the way you sleep (back, stomach or side), how hot you sleep, etc.
One of the models that seem to suitmost types of sleepers is the Tuft & Needle Mattress. Short of getting a new mattress, you might consider investing into a mattress pad, as a way of enhancing your current one.
Traction Device
Traction devices may look like a page from the medieval Inquisition manual, but it’s actually a great way to deal with back pay. What these things do is help your back muscles stretch by supporting your back in an anatomically correct position while they (the muscles) are being stretched in opposite directions.
This increases the blood flow, relieves nerve pressure, and alleviates overall back discomfort. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the True Back Traction Device.
Back Braces
Back braces do more or less the same job as a back support cushion, only you wear them on your person. They provide external support to your spine, and are usually prescribed by doctors to patients for posture correction, immobilization, as well as protecting from injuries and controlling symptoms.
The Mueller Adjustable Back Brace is a good place to startyour experience with back braces.
Cold Compress
One of the usual suspects when it comes to back pain is inflamed tissue. To reduce the pain, you should listen to your grandma’s advice, and put some ice on it.
On a more serious note, cooling the sore area helps alleviate the pain, whether it was a bag of frozen peas or the Ace Reusable Cold Compress ice pack.
Topical Creams
Sweet nectar of the gods, topical creams are an athlete’s favorite way to alleviate pain, whether it was in the back, neck, leg, arm, shoulder, you name it. What these creams do is affect the nerves, so that the sore spot feels either cool or hot (or both), depending on the type of cream.
One of the most popular choices is the Biofreeze Pain Relief Gel, which in and of itself testifies to its usefulness.
Over-the-Counter Analgesics
This is pretty much self-explanatory, though it must be noted that you should use these only if nothing else works, and only after consulting a professional.
