Although the name implies it, back pain does not only affect the back. The pain will initially start in a portion of the back, such as the lower back or upper back, but over time, if left untreated, the pain spreads to other areas of the back and even to areas, such as, the arms and legs. If you would like to prevent this from happening to you, read the following article for back pain tips.

Put a towel behind your back. Your back pain might be caused, or at least exacerbated, by poor posture. If you find that you are sitting for long periods of time, try rolling up a towel. Place this behind the small of your back while you are sitting. It can improve posture and alleviate back pain.

Use over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, to help relieve back pain. Taking oral pain medications can allow you to function somewhat normally when you are suffering from a bout of back pain. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package for best results.

Never try to ignore or “get by” with back pain. Many people make the mistake of ignoring the messages their bodies are sending. They try to just walk their back pain off. Trying to work through your pain will only make it worse. You will want to reduce your activity until your pain lessens.

Take over-the-counter pain medications first. A simple over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can usually take the edge off most backaches. Follow the instructions on the label, and take it as directed when your back starts acting up. If it isn’t enough, consider paying a visit to your doctor.

Chiropractor

To get instant, lasting pain relief for serious back injuries, you need to get a prescription from a doctor. Unfortunately, over-the-counter pain relief is not designed to treat chronic back pain caused by serious injuries like ruptured discs. If you cannot get to your chiropractor right away, then ask your regular doctor about getting a prescription for oxycodone or morphine.

Take one or two days to rest after you start having back pain. This can help you assess how seriously you injured your back and also prevent further injury to it. If the pain disappears, you probably suffered from a minor injury. Conversely, if your pain does not diminish or increases in severity, you should probably consult your physician to find out what is wrong. Resting any longer than two days will not only fail to cure the problem, but may actually worsen it by allowing the supporting muscles to further atrophy.

There are many different types of doctors that can help with back pain. You can see a chiropractor, an orthopedic doctor, or just your regular practitioner. Make sure before making an appointment with a specialist that your insurance will cover your appointment, and always find out if there will be any extra cost that you might be unaware of.

Going to a chiropractor for back pain can be a generally scary experience if you are not familiar. However, it is also a very eye opening and relieving experience as well. However, you should not go to just any chiropractor. Go to a well-respected one, and make sure that who touches your back is highly qualified and not messing it up further.

As stated before, back pain does not only affect the back, as the name implies. The pain starts in an area of the back and migrates to other areas of the back and body, when left untreated. Use the tips from this article to prevent your back pain from spreading throughout your body.