Whatever we do to prevent back pains, chances are this could still happen to us. Even the simplest movements can cause back pain – bending over to reach something that has dropped, moving furniture from one place to another, and lifting heavy objects without proper positioning. Reality is back pains are inevitable, but they could be prevented.
What is a back pain?
Back pains are usually experienced anywhere in the spinal region, but it is usually felt on the lower spine between the ribs and the legs. The pain ranges from mild to severe, but the pain usually gets better after some time. However, if you really want to improve your chances of getting better, you need to learn some basic first aid techniques for back pain. This will help you save money and time going to the doctor for further management if in case your condition gets worse.
What are the first aid tips for back pain?
In order to create a substantial first aid plan for back pain, it is important to recall the events that lead to back pain. These include bending, lifting, twisting or pushing. Understanding the causes of back pain is the first step to increasing your chances of recovery, because if you already know that your back is screaming from pain, you need to stop whatever you’re doing and get some rest to prevent that discomfort from advancing further. Stopping the activity that causes back pain is necessary to allow optimal body recovery, as back pains usually go away after some rest. Always remember that if you’re going to push yourself from doing strenuous activities even if you’re back cannot handle the pressures, you are likely putting yourself in a very disadvantaged position. Next, put your back in a balanced position when lifting heavy objects, twisting from one side to another and bending over. This reduces the load that your back is receiving, thereby reducing the stress that contributes to pain. Also, when going to sleep, it is necessary to lie on a fetal position (sideways), because lying on your back just increases the pressure on the spine, which can exacerbate the pain. Finally, controlling the pain is the most important aspect of first aid. In order to do this, you need to control the inflammation by using ice packs to cool down the injury site. However, applying ice packs should not last longer than 20 minutes, so as not to burn the skin with extreme cold. Over the counter, anti-inflammatory medications also help reduce the inflammation – examples are pain relievers like naproxen and ibuprofen.
When to Seek for Emergency Assistance?
If the back pain does not disappear after some time or just worsens even if you have already performed the abovementioned first aid techniques, it is necessary to seek medical assistance to further rule out the cause of the pain. Remember that normal back pains go away after some time; back pains that worsens over time maybe indicative of a more serious underlying condit
Sources:
“First Aid for Low Back Pain.” WebMD. Retrieved online on June 6, 2013 from First Aid for Low Back Pain “First Aid for your Back.” Spine Health. Retrieved online on June 6, 2013 from Spine Health