Many people suffer back pain at one point or another through out their lives.  The back is such an important part of our bodies that when it is sore or painful, it can throw everything else in the body off.

There are so many ways to hurt your back, everything from a slip and fall to picking up a heavy object incorrectly.  It seems that so often people end up having to have some kind of surgical procedure to alleviate this pain, but is surgery always necessary or just accepted?  If you are seeking an alternative way to deal with the pain, these tips may help.

Prevention of Back Pain

Often when a person experiences back pain, there are some simple things that can be done at home that can help to alleviate the pain and can be tried before a visit to the doctor is scheduled.  One of the first ideas to try is to apply a compress to the painful area.  Depending upon the type of injury, it could require both a hot and cold compress.

As soon as the back pain injury occurs, a cold compress (a baggie with ice wrapped in a towel) should be applied a number of times throughout the day, for no more than 20 minutes at a time.  After a couple of days, the compress will need to be changed to a warm temperature.  The warmth will help to increase the blood supply to the muscle as well as help relax it.  As a precautionary note, do not fall asleep with a heating pad as serious tissue damage could occur.

Exercises that Prevent Back Pain

While it may be the last thing you feel like doing when suffering from back pain, exercise is sometimes the best way to experience a speedy recuperation.  A list of good exercises can be obtained from your doctor; however, if visiting a doctor isn’t an option, yoga is often a good type of exercise to relieve the pain.

While it is not uncommon to feel some pain during these exercises, if the pain persists for more than 20 minutes, exercises should be stopped until a doctor visit can be scheduled. These exercises should be maintained even after the pain has subsided to prevent further back injuries.

Seeking Medical Attention

If the back pain is too much to bear, it may be a good idea to start the treatment with a couple of days of bed rest.  While this may be nice and relaxing, do not stay in bed for more than a couple of days, as more than that can start to cause issues at the injury site.  It is best to recommence activities as before as soon as possible to avoid side effects such as blood clots in the legs, depression, and a decrease in muscle tone.

If none of these tips works after 72 hours (three days), it would be wise to seek the treatment of a medical professional.  There may more serious effects from the injury.