Back and neck pain are awful to deal with. Regrettably, it is a condition that involves millions of people. There are several troubles that back pain can cause, in addition to the hurt itself. One is losing employment. This can cost you money. You may also be out money from attempting to heal your situation. Pain also makes it difficult to enjoy time with your loved ones. Luckily, virtually all cases of neck and back aches can be reduced without aggressive surgery or heavy medicine. Things such as exercising, tai chi and yoga, a supportive pillow for sleeping, and lumbar support during the day can relieve much of the hurt.
Exercise is an excellent way to keep neck and back aches from reoccurring. It is, however, something that must be done carefully. While being too still and dormant can aggravate the aches, being too physical can put too much strain on the muscles. A torn muscle can undo any advancement that you've made and should always be avoided. There are many books and videos that show exercises that are good for the spine. While these are a great start, ideally you will be able to work with a doctor or a physical therapist who can supervise your routine.
Two types of exercise that are gentle and OK for many people who have pain in the neck and back are yoga and tai chi. These two things will work by strengthening your body and raising your flexibility without putting too much stress on it. Individuals of any age and any physical condition can enjoy doing these two activities. Done wrongly, they can also cause injury, so find a nearby class that you can take that is at a pace that is right for you. You may also wish to talk to your doctor ahead of time, so you know what positions are safe and which should be avoided or modified.
One affordable and good change you can make in your life that can help alleviate aches is a change of pillows. When searching for a pillow for neck pain, look for one that will support you. It may be more firm than you are accustomed to, but eventually you will be wondering how you slept on something so fluffy before. If it is a large change over what you are currently using, you should lie down for naps or short rest periods during the day before using it for seven or eight hours a night. This will give your body time to align gradually and will reduce the chance of severe pain. You'll also want to look into supporting your lumbar region during the day. You can use a lumbar pillow, if you are sitting at a desk during the day, or a back brace if you do your work standing. If your mattress is too soft and you can afford it, you may want to replace your whole bed for added benefit.
All of these things should be done before you go with more severe options, such as operations. You should work closely with your physician in all of this, but it will be up to you to make the necessary changes. Don't get disheartened if it doesn't happen as fast as you want it to. Rather, be happy for the gradual changes.
