Almost everyone suffers from a backache sometime in their lives. Most, though not all, can be relieved with generations-old home remedies. Just changing positions can temporarily curb the pain.
1 Keep your feet at right angle
Try lying on your back on the floor, with your feet and calves resting on a low chair or box so that your knees form a right angle. Put a small, flat pillow under your neck and relax in this position for a few minutes.
2 Lie on your side
Lie on the side that feels most painful with pillow under your neck and waist. Or lie with the painful side up, pillows in the same places, and then slowly pull your top knee toward your chest while your arm rolls backward.
3 Hot and cold treatment
Some home remedies say to ice down a bad back; other advocate heating it; a few suggest both. Let’s clear this up once and for all. The rule of thumb is to apply ice immediately if the pain results from a sudden strain or spasm. Later, switch to moist heat.
4 Lie on your stomach
Lie on your stomach and have someone spread a hot towel smoothly over the painful area. A hearing pad over the towel helps spread the soothing heat. You might even top it off with something heavy, like a phone book, to apply pressure to the heat. A hot soak in the tub more than once a day also works wonders. Another remedy advocates using 30 minutes of cold packs, followed by 30 minutes of heat.
5 Sleep well
You can do a lot to help out a backache when you are sound asleep – if you follow these simple, proven home remedies. Start off by sleeping like an ’S’. Sleep with pillows under your head and your back.
6 Use the right mattress
Opt for a mattress that has the right level of hardness which ensures better support for your back. Mattress that are way too soft can increase your back pain and make the condition worse. If possible spread a blanket on a hard floor and sleep over it. Waterbed is also a great option, it will equalize the pressure all over your body, regardless of your sleeping position.
7 Use a rolled towel
Try typing a rolled up towel around your middle at bedtime, especially if you are prone to low back pain. The towel helps keep you on your side while you are sleeping.
8 Be gentle while getting out of the bed
After a good night’s sleep, wake up slowly and get up even slower. Slide gently out of bed. Scoot to the side of the bed and lower legs to the floor while making a point to keep your back straight.
9 Shock-absorbing cushion
Many people find that shock absorbing cushion inserts in their shoes are great for relieving a weak back.
10 Try to use aspirin
Back pain usually means there is inflammation around the muscles, so aspirin is the simples over the counter treatment. Unfortunately acetaminophen does not fight inflammation.
11 White willow bark
For people who can’t take aspirin, try a dose of white willow bark, which has a similar ingredient. Find it at health food stores.
12 Watch your posture
Finally, the lessons we learned as children were really home remedies in disguise: Sit up straight. Stand tall. Watch your posture and you will help your aching back.