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How to Handle Chronic Back Pain

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A woman with back pain

Back pain happens to nearly all of us from time to time, but for some, it doesn’t seem to go away. This back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. Does your back pain bring you not only aches and pains, but also frustration? You certainly are not alone. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if it interferes with your job, family responsibilities, hobbies, sleep, or overall happiness in life. If you’ve been suffering for months or even years with chronic back pain make today the day you learn more about what you can do to get better.

Lifestyle Changes

Back pain is often caused by everyday bad habits that stress and strain your muscles, as well as activities that are simply not healthy for you. Did you know that drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes can make back pain worse? Having excess weight, especially in your mid-section, also leads to chronic back pain. Poor posture as you sit at your computer for work or drive is another big culprit of regularly-occurring back pain. Your chronic back pain could be from something as simple as not getting enough calcium. A little research will tell you if your pain can be eased or eliminated with a few lifestyle changes. 

Visit a medical professional for chronic back pain

 Depending on the original source of your back pain, this could be either a chiropractor or a physical therapist. Spinal manipulation as part of chiropractic care is considered a safe, effective treatment for acute low back pain. If your pain is the result of an accident and is more severe, a physical therapist can work with you on a treatment plan to recover. Remember, any type of chronic pain has mental effects as well. Negative feelings like depression, anxiety, stress, and anger can increase your sensitivity to pain. Your back hurts, which makes you upset, and then being upset makes your back hurt even more! It may be a good idea to visit a support group for those with chronic pain or a mental health professional to deal with the emotional side of it. 

Regular exercise for chronic back pain

 You may want to be sedentary or even feel you should be, but actually limiting activity as a means of managing your pain can be counterproductive. Activity increases blood flow to the affected area, decreasing inflammation and reducing muscle tension. The failure to perform any exercise, particularly abdominal strengthening exercises, may lead to poor posture and increased low back pain," says Nancy E. Epstein, MD, chief of neurosurgical spine and education at Winthrop-University Hospital. The best exercises for back pain prevention include Pilates, yoga, or other core strengthening activities that can increase stability in the back muscles.

Buy the best mattress to relieve back pain

 Chronic back pain plagues millions of people across the country and sleeping on an uncomfortable bed only makes matters worse. Many have found that sleeping on the best mattress for them is an effective way to put an end to back pains. Everyone’s ideal mattress is going to be different, so it’s important to visit a City Mattress location and speak to a Sleep Expert about your back pain. Our professional sales staff will educate you on the different features and benefits available by our many different manufacturers. They can assist you in finding the right support and comfort level you prefer to offer you the best night's sleep. It doesn’t necessarily need to be Firm, as long as it is supportive and well-made. Be sure to look into adding an adjustable bed base as well, as sleeping slightly elevated does wonders to alleviate back pain!

You won’t believe how quickly you can say goodbye to your chronic back pain! When you purchase your new mattress through us, we offer free, next-day delivery. If you live outside our local delivery area, we will ship your purchase directly to you using 'white-glove' delivery service experts. We also offer our Comfort Guarantee to ensure you will be completely happy with your new mattress. For whatever reason, we will exchange your mattress to ensure you are sleeping well! You can choose a different brand, material, style or comfort option. This is just one way we prove that we want you to sleep better, and wake up pain-free!