Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people miss work or seek medical treatment. It causes major discomfort and disrupts normal life. 

Read on to learn about the common factors that can affect back pain, and the importance of treating back pain to help pain relief.

Acute or chronic back pain? 

Acute back pain starts suddenly and lasts up to 6 weeks while chronic - or long-term - pain develops over a period of time and lasts over 3 months. Chronic back pain often results in recurring problems if left untreated.

Our back consists of a complex system of ligaments, muscles, bones, discs, nerves, and tendons that work together to support the body. It is the reason we can move around and function every day. The spine’s segments are cushioned with disks (or cartilage-like pads). Problems with any of these parts can cause acute or chronic back pain.

What causes back pain?

Common causes of back pain are tension, strain, or injury. These include falls, fractures, muscle spasm, damaged disks, muscle tension, and strained ligaments or muscles. 

Activities that result in spasms or strains are: poor posture, lifting (probably something too heavy), wrong position when lifting, pushing/pulling something heavy, sitting/standing for long periods, twisting, and making a sudden awkward movement.

In addition, numerous structural issues that can cause back pain are sciatica, bulging disks, ruptured disks, arthritis, osteoporosis, abnormal curve of the spine, and kidney stones or infections.

People of various ages can develop back pain, including children and teens. Some factors that could put you at a greater risk of getting back pain are:

• Age: back pain comes with aging and commonly starts between 30 and 40
• Excess weight: extra kilos put stress on your back
• Pregnancy: Added weight strains your back
• Lack of exercise: unused, weak muscles in the abdomen and back may lead to back pain
• Conditions or diseases: Arthritis, Sciatica and some types of cancer contribute to back pain
• Smoking: decreases blood flow to the lower spine. This inhibits the body from distributing enough nutrients to the spinal disks. This also slows healing.
• Psychological conditions: people with high tendencies to anxiety disorder and depression are more likely to develop back pain

How to treat back pain?

Back pain usually goes away with rest and home remedies. There are several ways of treating back pain as soon as you feel its onset. Over-the-counter pain relief medication, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, help relieve discomfort immediately.

Applying an ice pack or hot compress can also assist in reducing pain. Check our back wrap with strap:This useful strap by TheraPearl can be used as a hot or cold therapy for fast and effective pain relief of the back. 

Another effective way of treating back pain is the use of back support aids, such as decompression back brace: our Dr Ho Decompression Back Belt is a light and portable waist brace that decompresses your lower back allowing it to stretch and relax, relieving tight muscles and tendons, pain and stiffness. 

A good topical gel for muscle and back pain is an effective pain relief solution that helps  quickly. Try our ActivFlex Pain Relief Gel

A back brace can be very helpful for daily use. Our Back Brace by Push Care is a stabilising brace with a removable pad, ideal for lower back and abdominal support.  This brace reduces your body’s load on your lower spine, creating a more even distribution of weight. It also supports your back when you’re lifting heavy objects, and the adjustable compression creates a custom fit. Our Push Care back brace is very suitable for osteoarthritis, sciatica and chronic back pain.

At-home stretching devices

To alleviate back pain, stretching is an effective exercise you can incorporate in your daily routine. Why not try the Magic Back Support Stretcher as an additional treatment. 

Physical therapy, acupuncture, yoga, shiatsu, chiropractor, or a combination of these non-conventional therapies can be used to alleviate pain. 

Those who engage in a regular program of stretching and exercising, recover more quickly from the pain. Also, the chances for future pain become comparatively less.

Daily back support aids

One of the best drug-free back pain aids - and an alternative to surgery - are tens machines. They are effective and prevent pain by releasing endorphins – your body’s natural painkiller -  to accelerate healing. At Bettercaremarket, we have several tens units to suit your needs.

The Physio Thermal Decompression Air Traction Back Belt is a lower back belt support that consists of decompression, magnetic and heat therapy allowing to stretch, relax and warm up your lower back to relieve pain and stiffness.

Another option is a PRO TENS Analogue, which is an effective tens unit that reduces chronic and subacute pain in a drug-free and non-invasive way. It stimulates the muscles and increases blood circulation for natural healing.

Another ‘go to’ tens machine is the popular Neurotrac TENS & NMES. It is a digital TENS machine that combines TENS with EMS to stimulate your muscles. It has 19 preset programs and 3 adjustable modes. Just put the electrodes on the painful area and you will probably feel the back pain gradually reduce. 

PainPod Heat is a world’s first FDA approved TENS machine with heat. It is a powerful and medical grade TENS unit that alleviates chronic, acute back pain through the combination of TENS technology and soothing heat. You can use the touch screen to choose your program, level of heat and intensity.

Another very effective tens unit, is our PainGone Pen that uses a combination of electro and acupuncture therapy. It is a non-invasive device that helps with temporary pain relief on the push of a button. It fits in your bag. With over 1.5 million units sold worldwide, Paingone's Pen popularity speaks for itself.

Conclusion

Back pain is painful and can impact your daily activities considerably. Consider nonsurgical treatments to help reduce your pain promptly. Options are numerous: hot or cold compresses, tens machines, decompression back braces or back stretchers. The choice is up to you.

Choose complementary therapies, with back support aids, that work best for you. This makes a holistic approach to treating back pain. Please consult your doctor if your pain persists. 

Take a look at our blog post "Discover 6 effective natural pain relievers" where we discuss pain relief remedies to help you take control of your pain. If you are after pain relief after an injury, we would recommend "Best drugfree pain relief devices after an injury".

Find the full range of Back Support devices on our website.

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About Bettercaremarket

Bettercaremarket is your leading supplier of healthcare essentials and your #1 destination for quality incontinence supplies, mobility equipment, independent living aids for seniors, disability aids, rehab and therapy products and medical supplies.

We help NDIS-participants, aged care facilities, home care package providers, occupational therapists and allied health providers find the best solutions to solve their need.