Back pain plagues thousands of Americans everyday. Chances are you may have experienced back pain at one time or other too. Fortunately there are many back pain treatments that can be accomplished in the comfort and security of your own home. By changing your sleeping patterns, exercising regularly and taking over-the-counter medications when needed, you can lessen or even eliminate your back pain. The purpose of the following article is to discuss the several self-care back pain treatments that are most effective for reducing the instances or intensity of back pain.

Proper Sleeping Positions And Bedding

How many times have you awaken in the morning to an aching back? Well it could be your mattress or your sleeping position. If your mattress is old and has been lying in the same position for a while, the support of the bedding will begin to weaken. The best remedy is to purchase a new, high-quality, mattress. While they may be expensive, you won’t have to replace them every three or four years. Also, a good quality mattress that serves as a treatment for your back pain will save you money in medications, doctor’s visits and loss of productivity. As you can see, the higher cost of a good mattress doesn’t really seem so high when you look at it that way.

The way you sleep may be just as important as what you sleep on. Experts suggest sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees to ensure proper posture throughout the night. If you are plagued with chronic back pain, you can try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees to alleviate the pain. Many retail stores sell body pillows (named for their large size) that can help support your body during sleep for back pain treatment.

Proper Exercise For Back Pain Treatment

While exercise isn’t as effective as a treatment for acute back pain, it can be helpful for people who suffer from chronic pain. The exercises most often suggested for back pain treatment are stretching exercises that will strengthen the muscles in the back and improve flexibility and mobility.

It is best to check with your doctor to get ideas for exercises that can be used for treatment of back pain. Your doctor can either show you some simple exercises or will offer you a pamphlet illustrated some useful exercises.

Over The Counter Medications For Back Pain Treatment

Doctors recommend over-the-counter, or OTC, medications for the relief of common back pain. Prescription medications can be taken in extreme cases, but are often not necessary for the treatment of chronic back pain. Ibuprofen (i.e. Advil or Motrin) is the most common medication recommended and taken to reduce back pain. However stomach problems can occur with prolonged use. Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) has also been proven as effective for treatment of back pain as ibuprofen and does not cause the same damage to the stomach.