Back pain – And now what?

Low back pain is something that is bothering more and more people around us.
Four out of five people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. After the common cold, back pain is the most common condition that causes loss of working hours under the age of 45 and affects the quality of life of patients.
The common cause of back pain is muscle cramps caused by sudden movement, excessive exercise or poor posture. Of course, the causes of the pain can be more serious, such as disc herniation, arthritis, etc.

But what do we do when our waist is “caught”?
Most of us act with the logic that when we are in pain we take painkillers. Only the back pain does not obey logic.
And according to a study last year by the medical journal Lancet, which is considered one of the oldest and most authoritative medical publications in the world, swallowing painkillers for low back pain is almost the same as taking sugar pills.

The other way to treat back pain is with cold or hot compresses. To be more precise, the patches are chosen hot or cold, or with hot-cold alternations depending on the cause of the pain. Warm pads offer relief when lower back pain is due to muscle spasm, are not recommended when the pain is due to chronic inflammation (eg arthritis) and cold compresses are placed when lower back pain is caused after injury (e.g. in sports) in order to reduce the extent of inflammation.

However, with painkillers, hot or cold, we have seen that the pain is slow to subside and leave us alone.
So how do we actually help our spine escape the choking pain? However, definitely not with immobility. Instead…

We adopt the movement. And exactly the right move.
Will you tell me now is it possible? After all, the first instruction given by the doctor is to stay in bed and even if possible immobile. This is something that most people have adopted as a rule if this is possible, so they are afraid to move and avoid any kind of movement when their back hurts.

However, by remaining immobile for more than 48 hours, the muscles begin to atrophy, thus becoming weaker and eventually more vulnerable.
According to PhD Christopher Maher, head of the Lancet study, a walk around our neighborhood square, avoiding excessive stress and fatigue and then gradually increasing light movement and exercise is the best medicine for our faster recovery.

So move on. Carefully, steadily and if you are afraid, ask for the guidance of a specialized trainer, physiotherapist or doctor.

Important:
The treatment for back pain depends on the cause of the pain and is individualized. If you find that the means you have chosen do not relieve you at all after 1-2 days of application and the light movement and the treatment you follow do not work, then it is recommended to consult an expert. You should also do the same if the pain persists for more than two days with undiminished intensity.

Irene Damanaki

Yoga Educator