Back pain can be caused by the array of interconnected spinal muscles, nerves, bones, discs, or tendons present in the spine. Damaged nerves and muscles, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis are the leading cause of back pain that can make everyday tasks like sitting, standing, or sleeping difficult and painful for some. The interconnected ligaments and tissues present in the spine are highly susceptible to damage when there is constant and significant stress put on them.
If you do not have preexisting conditions such as arthritis or a degenerative disc disease, there are several daily habits that could be causing significant stress on spine muscles and ligaments that will lead to back pain.
Desk posture:
Combining a sedentary desk job, daily stress, and poor posture can lead to serious ligament and spine disc damage. Good posture refers to the proportion and symmetrical alignment of body parts like your arms, legs, and neck relative to the rest of the body.
To correct poor posture, chiropractors recommend stretching before sitting for long periods of time to allow your body to position itself at a healthy sitting angle.
Not drinking enough water:
Reaching for soft drinks and sugary beverages instead of water can cause serious damage to your back. Drinking the recommended daily 7-8 glasses of water allows vital organs and cells to function optimally throughout the course the day. When the body is dehydrated, the disks cannot recharge the nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral disks, thus causing friction between other disks and ligaments that make up the spine. The result of this friction can cause swelling, ruptures, and herniation of the outer shell of the intervertebral disk, which can cause uncomfortable back pain.
Heavy backpacks and purses:
Carrying more than the essentials in your backpack or purse can lead to stress on ligaments and muscles in the spine. Depending on your height and weight, the load of your backpack should not exceed 5 to 10% of your total body weight. Carrying a large load causes the body to bend forward to support excess weight, which can cause your spine to align at an unnatural angle.
Wearing high heels:
Wearing shoes that are too high causes the spine to arch, which causes stress on ligaments and joints in the body. To avoid damage to your spine, it is recommended that you find the right heel size by measuring the distance between the top of the big toe and the bottom of your heel while sitting down and extending your leg out in a relaxed position. By extending your leg and arching your foot at a comfortable position, you will find that angle measured in the distance between the big toe and the bottom heel is the most comfortable when wearing heels for long periods of time.
Sleeping habits:
Sleeping the recommended 7-8 hours can help prevent fatigue and posture throughout the day, but the position in which you sleep in could be hurting your back. If you like to sleep on your side and are experiencing back pain, placing a pillow in between your knees can help your body rest at a more natural position. If you sleep on your back, placing a pillow under the knees will help balance out the angle at which the spine sits while you sleep. Feel free to experiment with different sleeping positions to find the angle that causes the least stress on your spine.
Pain management can be achieved by consulting with a doctor or a chiropractor to examine the spine, and assess the appropriate pain medication therapy. Prescription medications can provide substantial relief from back pain. One of the most effective muscle relaxers for back pain is Flexeril. The active ingredient in Flexeril, cyclobenzaprine, works by blocking pain receptors in the brain and spinal cord that alleviate uncomfortable stiffness when sitting, standing, or sleeping. If your doctor prescribes a muscle relaxant, like Flexeril, to help manage your back pain, you can save off your medication’s cost by using one of our free prescription coupons.
