Back and Neck Pain Can Be Your Day’s Worst Enemy
By Lindsey Morin
We all dream about living a life without back and neck pain. We long for the days of our youth where we could move freely and not fear about how we would feel the next day. We tend not to appreciate this small thing until it’s gone from our lives. The pain level can range from a mild annoying ache to sharp, persistent pain. Here are five key causes of back and neck pain.
One
A precursor to pain that affects many people is sleep. Sleeping well at night can benefit your physical and mental health, but if you sleep “wrong,” it can lead to neck pain. This is known as torticollis, and when the muscles in this part of the body become irritated, it can be challenging to move your head from left to right. When experiencing this type of discomfort, moving your neck is not dangerous and can help stretch the muscles.
Two
Oddly enough, simple household chores and spending time with your kids can cause pain. Bending up and down when cleaning the bathroom or taking dishes out of the dishwasher can put a lot of strain on your lower back. Moving slowly and changing positions can help minimize the amount of stress on the muscles in that area of your body. Playing with your kids is an exciting part of the day, but it is essential to remember to bend at the knees to lift. This small switch in action performance will have your back saying, “thank you.”
Three
One of the biggest influencers of pain is within the workplace. Slumping over your desk or computer at work leads to your spine being hunched over, causing a load of strain on your back and neck muscles. A simple solution is to switch to a sit-stand desk. Switching positions throughout the workday can relieve pain and improve blood circulation. If your job is sedentary, make sure you get up and walk around several times throughout the day.
Four
Beyond the workplace, poor posture can cause upper back pain because it is challenging for a person to maintain a good sitting position over an extended period of time. When you make yourself aware of how you are sitting, you can begin to reduce pain. Sitting up straighter and doing exercises to strengthen your core will improve a slouching posture.
Five
Back and neck pain can also be caused by strenuous activity, including exercising and playing sports. To help prevent this, make sure you stretch thoroughly before performing workouts or playing sports. Using the proper form during these instances helps prevent back and neck pain, strengthening the neck, shoulder and core muscles.
Helping relieve the pain symptoms can be as straightforward as a hot or cold pack. The use of these packs can loosen and relax the muscles in the affected area, which causes a decrease in pain. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin can be taken but use under your health care provider’s supervision.
Visiting an orthopedist or a sports medicine doctor can also be a good idea if you have persistent neck and back pain. Practices like Newman Regional Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine perform a comprehensive range of services for people suffering from chronic pain.
For Neck and Back Pain Relief & Procedures in Emporia, KS, contact Newman Regional Health at (620) 343-6800 ext. 21637.
