Having Lower Back Pain? Start with a Mattress Check
When lower back pain shows up, everything else seems to move to second place. The ongoing pain can be hard to ignore and the slowing down of everyday activities can be incredibly frustrating.
A Mattress Check Might Help
Harvard Health says choosing the right mattress is key to managing low back pain. It can actually make the difference in whether you get a good night’s sleep and are able to function normally the next day. Medium firm and firm mattresses are recommended. Soft mattresses can raise questions. You could sink so deeply into it that joints twist and pain results. And old lumpy mattresses need to be replaced. To simulate a firmer mattress put a plywood board under the mattress to buffer bedspring movement or try placing the mattress on the floor.
Next, See Your Chiropractor
Back pain is a specialty for the chiropractor and good advice on mattresses, posture and a dozen other key triggers will probably come up too. As you learn to take care of your back, seeing a chiropractor could help you learn a lot more about ways to help keep your back pain free. The initial visit includes a spinal adjustment to evaluate spinal health, a complete medical history review and a discussion of daily activities. The overall goal will be to help seek pain solutions and restoration of normal activity without medication or surgery.
As the chiropractor determines where you are, a plan of preventive maintenance will begin to take shape. The chiropractor may suggest a new firm mattress, sleeping with a pillow between your legs to take pressure off of the spine, and losing weight as you reshape your diet. The chiropractor may also suggest trying some new relaxation efforts or stress releasing classes such as yoga or Tai Chi, and getting out in the sun to scoop up 20 minutes of Vitamin D.
Overall, the mattress may be just the beginning of the discussion, but the overall effect will be to supply you with a whole bag of healthy practices that can be used to fit your life and protect your back.
I have seen many friends and family members start out with back pain questions and wind up with successful solutions as they made their way through treatment. Some were practically immobilized when they started visits. Others were annoyed that they had painful twinges that just kept slowing down their schedules at work and out on the weekends. But in each case, the big smiles and happy reports of progress all showed up too as they found workable solutions with their chiropractors.
Call for an appointment today and find out more.