Eighty percent of adults will suffer from back pain at some point in life, making it the most common type of chronic pain. Ouch! Maybe an old mattress it to blame, or perhaps it’s just poor posture – either way, there are things you can do manage and maybe even cure your backaches.
Here are a few simple changes you can make to help ease the pain:
1. Clean out your purse! Believe it or not, overloaded handbags, backpacks, and briefcases are a big cause of chronic back pain. All that stuff in your bag can really add up. If you’re noticing an indent on your shoulder, it’s definitely too heavy. Put it on a scale and weigh it; if it’s more than 10 percent of your body weight, it’s time to clean out your purse.
2. Carry less cash. You really don’t need more than $40 cash with you at any time. Most places take credit or debit cards, and your back depends on it! Sitting on a fat wallet all day actually twists the spine and compresses nerves in the butt and leg, and can cause sciatica. It’s so common in men that it has a clinical name: wallet neuropathy!
3. Adjust your sleep position. The best sleeping position if you have a bad back is on your side with a pillow tucked between your bent knees. They even make special pillows for it! The worst positions are on your face or back, which arches the spine and prevents it from fully relaxing.
4. Get Tailored. This may seem like a strange thing to do for back pain, but a tailor can detect a difference in the length of your legs. If one of your legs is even slightly shorter than the other, it can affect your back! If your tailor detects a difference, see a podiatrist about getting custom inserts to balance things out.
And always talk to your doctor first!
