5 Low Back Pain Remedies and When to See a Doctor

If you live with low back pain, you understand more than anyone how difficult a life of chronic pain can be. Your spine is the structure that supports your body and every movement you make. When you are experiencing back pain, even the most simple tasks can become excruciating. It’s important to know that low back pain remedies do exist. 

Fortunately, there are several home remedies for back pain that are effective at reducing pain and regaining normal function. You can incorporate them into your daily routine. Continue reading to learn about 5 remedies that you can try. You should see a doctor to receive professional care if your symptoms persist or worsen. 

Causes of Low Back Pain 

Lower back pain is a prevalent ailment that most individuals will experience at some point in their lives. In most instances, back pain is usually brought on by overexertion or a minor injury. However, in more rare cases, low back pain can indicate an underlying medical issue. 

The most common causes of lower back pain include: 

• Strains and sprains
• Persistent stress
• Disk problems such as herniated disks
• Spinal stenosis or the narrowing of the spinal canal 
• Fractures
• Arthritis 
• Spondylolisthesis
• Conditions like kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysm 
• Diseases such as spine tumors

Home Remedies For Back Pain That Work

A home remedy for back pain is sometimes all it takes in order to reduce symptoms and get back to your life. Proven home remedies for back pain include: 

1. Light Exercise; It may seem contradictory, but constant rest can actually do more harm than good when recovering from back pain. In fact, conducting light exercises is actually a great way to build spinal strength and fortify your body against future instances of back pain. It’s essential to start with light cardio and aerobics before moving on to lifting and more strenuous exercises. 
2. Revolving Warm and Cold Compresses: If your lower back pain has just recently begun, warm and cold compresses may aid in reducing inflammation and tenderness. A heating pad can help with the pain typically experienced with back pain, whereas a cold compress can help reduce inflammation.
3. Consider Doing Yoga: Basic yoga exercises and stretching can help tremendously in adding flexibility to your spine and reducing the presence of lower back pain. However, be sure to start with the more amateur poses until you develop your flexibility. 
4. Learn Ways to Destress: If your lower back pain is caused by stress, finding ways to limit the stressors in your life can help. Aside from reducing the amount of stress-causing factors in your life, consider trying deep breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation training. 
5. Stop Harmful Routines: Many causes of back pain result from unhealthy posture over long periods of time. You may notice relief from your pain by standing up straight, reducing slouching when sitting at desks, and making sure your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle with your feet flat on the floor. 

When You Should See Your Doctor (Instead of Using a Home Remedy for Back Pain)

As a rule of thumb, if you ever find yourself unable to go about your normal activities without experiencing pain, it’s probably time to see a doctor. 

It’s important to see a doctor if your symptoms of low back pain:

• Come on suddenly with no specific cause
• Last more than a day and isn’t relieved by painkillers
• Is unbearable
• Accompanies other symptoms like weight loss or fatigue 

Get Your Medical Questions Answered at BASS Urgent Care 

If your lower back pain persists or worsens after trying these five home remedies, contact one of our medical experts at BASS Urgent Care. Do not simply live with your back pain. Solutions exist, and we want to help you experience much-needed relief. For questions, please give us a call at (925) 318-9822.