A common problem that most people will eventually experience is back pain. Back pain can be a one time condition or a chronic condition that affects those who have it for days, weeks, months, or even years. There are different factors that can cause back discomfort. Use the advice in the following article to isolate and eliminate these factors.

Use over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, to help relieve back pain. Taking oral pain medications can allow you to function somewhat normally when you are suffering from a bout of back pain. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package for best results.

To prevent unnecessary back discomfort, or even when you sit, retain good posture. It is often assumed that the majority of back injuries are due to some sort of strenuous activity. The truth is, if you sit the wrong way, like when you are at the computer for long hours, that can cause ongoing damage to the muscles in your back.

Try not to stand for long periods of time. Doing this can cause a back injury because of all the strain that you are putting your body through. If you have a job that causes you to be on your feet all day, make sure to sit on your breaks, and when you get home you rest for a little.

Clean out your purse, backpack or briefcase on a regular basis. Depending on the size and how often you use the item, you may need to clean it out weekly. It is easy to accumulate unnecessary items over time. The less weight you carry, the more healthy your back will be.

A simple way to relax is to release all the tension from your body when lying down. Then, you can alternately tense up and then relax certain muscles to bring a feeling of relief. When you can successfully do this, it relaxes your body while also making it function better.

Use ice! If you have back discomfort from a legitimate injury “” and not just a muscle cramp or basic tension – use an ice pack to relieve the pain! Ice is a natural pain reliever for many ailments, and the cold will help to reduce any swelling associated with any injuries you may be suffering!

If you have used every back remedy you could think of to no avail, you might consider seeing a chiropractor. The chiropractor will likely want to x-ray your back to determine the proper course of treatment. By making minor adjustments, you will see your pain subsiding.

One of the most common and unexpected causes of bad back discomfort is your sleeping position. Many people are not aware of exactly how they sleep and this can easily cause you to twist your back into bad positions. Be sure to discuss this possibility with your doctor or physician.

Back pain affects a wide variety of people, and it is often aggravated by heavy lifting. Take extreme care when you do lift items that weigh a lot.

The type of shoes you wear can help to alleviate back discomfort, so try to get some of those comfort cushioned shoe soles to help out. Those types of soles with the gel inside of them are a great pick. If those are a little too pricy for you, just try a pair of shoes that are more comfortable for you to wear.

In order to help reduce your back pain, try to eat a diet higher in potassium. Food items like bananas are great for your muscles. Potassium is a vital mineral that your body needs, and athletes have used potassium to keep from cramping for hundreds of years. It can certainly help to alleviate back discomfort.

Be very, very careful if you are taking pain killers to get rid of your back pain. Not only can these ultimately worsen the pain when you are no longer taking them, but many people become dependent on the pain killers. Pain meds are drugs, and drugs can birth drug addicts. Approach these meds with caution.

Doing the simple things can help you alleviate back discomfort, like simply taking your time when you stand up or get out of bed. Sudden movements and jerking motions can jar the muscles and even cause discs to slip and slide around. Be cognizant of your movements and take a little time when getting up.

If you like to wear high heels but experience back pain, the answer is simple; take the heels off and go with regular shoes. Standing on your toes is a very unnatural posture for your spine. Over time, this can cause damage to not only your muscles but also the discs in your back. Save the high heels for very special occasions.

Taking a long, brisk walk can help you to loosen up your muscles and eliminate the back discomfort you’re dealing with. While walking might not actually cure the pain permanently, the exercise will help soothe the pain by stretching the muscles and keeping them warm. Take the dog around the block or walk to the store and back.

If you already have a spinal injury and you are a smoker, we’ve got some bad news for you. Smoking is actually making it harder for your back to heal. Every time you smoke you are causing a diminished amount of oxygen to get to the spinal chord, and it needs all the oxygen to heal quickly.

Get more vitamin D. Vitamin D has been shown to cause chronic back discomfort in some cases, but getting more of this important vitamin is an easy thing to do. Have some milk and spend time outside to get the most vitamin D you can. Most people are vitamin D deficient and don’t know that, so make sure to talk to your doctor about checking your blood to be sure.

As stated before in the introduction above, eventually, most people will experience back pain. The pain can last a short time, or become a chronic condition that lasts for years. It is caused by different factors, some of which can be eliminated. Remember the advice from this article to help you isolate factors in your life that may be causing you back pain.