Do Back Pain Products Help?

The ads are everywhere, enticing you to buy back pain products. It's no wonder, given the statistics on how many people suffer from back pain.

But, do products claiming to relieve back pain really work?

From what I've read, heard and experienced, I think that many do, and believe that a lot of people can find back pain help IF they find the right product and use it properly. However, since back pain affects each of us in a unique manner, so will products designed to relieve pain.

How do you go about finding back pain products suited for your condition?

Ideally, you will see a physical therapist who will talk with you in-depth about your back pain and various back pain treatment options. They will most likely recommend back exercises and may suggest a back pain product, or products, that can either assist you with exercise or help with your day-to-day comfort. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to meet with a physical therapist. My suggestion...

Talk with your doctor if you have back pain or have had a recent back injury and educate yourself as much as possible about your pain, and any back pain products your are considering.

Choosing Back Pain Products

To begin the process you may want to ask yourself a few questions. Your responses will hopefully begin to give you some perspective on whether or not you need a back pain product, and if you do...

• what products will work best for you, and
• how much money to invest

1. What is causing my back pain?

There are many instances whereby back pain is actually what is known as referred pain. In this instance, the pain is generated in another part of the body, but transmits itself to the back. Therefore, treating the cause of the pain will likely be more effective than focusing primarily on the back.

2. Do I expect my pain to go away soon, or last for more than three months and be considered chronic back pain?

Chances are you will want to spend less money on a short-term solution than you would if you are looking for chronic back pain relief.

3. Have I documented the things that trigger my pain and the things that help relieve it?

Analyzing the events that increase or decrease your pain may help you determine if an environmental change would resolve your problems. If every time you vacuum, you experience pain, maybe it's a new, light-weight vacuum you need, not a back pain product. Likewise, if your back hurts more after sitting at your computer, it may be that your chair doesn't offer enough support. However, before running off to buy a new chair - don't rule out poor sitting posture as being the culprit!

4. Do I have severe back pain, or mild pain?

The severity of the pain will often determine how much you think is appropriate to spend on back pain relief. However, keep in mind, that even mild pain left untreated will often become more severe over time.

5. Is my pain consistently worse during certain times of the day, or night?

Pain often increases as the day progresses and our body becomes more tired. For many people, alterations to their daily activities are more effective than a back pain product in relieving pain. On the other hand, if your back is extremely sore every morning this could signify that you may not be using the best mattress for your needs.

Close evaluation of your pain may provide tremendous insight as to a solution.

6. Would I be more motivated to exercise if I could use back exercise equipment?

Many people feel that their exercise routine is more beneficial when they use professional quality exercise equipment. You may find what you're looking for at a local gym. Or, if you have chronic back pain, the ease of having equipment in your home may outweigh its cost.

7. Are there exercises I can't do without exercise devices, or ones that would be easier to do with them?

Some exercises are difficult to do without the use of items such as yoga straps, exercise mats, or special pillows, and some need props like fitness balls, or foam rollers. Not having these items may limit your exercise routine. Also, a disability may warrant special exercise equipment.

Back Pain Help

Since every back problem is unique, I try to stay away from recommending a specific back pain solution or product. I would hate to have someone invest money in back pain products based on my recommendations, only to be disappointed when they find out that their of no use to them. Therefore, I've put together a "generic" listing of some of the most popular back pain products and will let you do your own homework on them!

Although I'm not suggesting that a particular back pain product will be helpful, I do have one recommendation: pamper your back! Yes, spoil your back rotten and you may be amazed at how much better you start to feel. I'm living proof!

The basics...

Supportive chair for back pain - For proper back support use ergonomic chairs - not only when sitting at the computer but also when eating, reading, or watching television.

Good bedding - Provide your back with the best mattress your budget will allow. After all, we spend a third of our lives in bed! Don't stop there, make sure your pillows provide the support required to keep your neck and spine aligned. And, buy an extra pillow to place between your knees when side sleeping. This can prevent the upper leg from slipping down toward the mattress, thus pulling on your lower back.

Back exercise equipment and aides...

Foam rollers - Round and semi round foam rollers can be used for self-massage to treat leg pain, back, hip, neck and shoulder pain, as well as for a large variety of exercises including Pilates, yoga and posture exercises.

Exercise mats - An extra layer of padding can make any floor exercise easier on your back, and bum! Don't skimp - find yourself a nice thick, non-skid pad.

Fitness balls - A fitness ball workout can incorporate a wide range of exercises, not only for your back, but other muscle groups, as well.

Back pain inversion table - Hang yourself upside down and defy gravity to help relieve back and neck pain! How does it work. Inversion elongates the spine, thus increasing the space between vertebrae, which in turn relieves pressure on the discs, ligaments and nerve roots.

Personal paraphernalia...

Back brace - Both rigid back braces and corset back braces help in limiting motion of the spine and are commonly used after some forms of back surgery. Corset style braces are also often used by workers who do heavy lifting. By restricting motion, the brace can act as a reminder to keep the back straight and lift through the use of the leg muscles.

Foot rest - Raising feet a few inches off the floor onto a downward slanting surface can help relieve pressure on the lower back.

Back pain bras - Bras designed in varying styles can help correct posture, which in turn may provide relief from back pain.

Comfortable back pain shoes - Did you know that walking with a painful foot problem or an imbalance can contribute to back pain? Take good care of your feet and invest in quality back pain shoes to ensure that your base of support, your feet are well protected.

Joint pain supplements - Natural back pain relief, in the form of chondroitin and glucosamine supplements, is frequently used. Although there is a debate over its effectiveness in rebuilding cartilage, lost to osteoarthritis, it has been used as arthritis pain relief for many years.

TENS units - Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, TENS, provides pulses of electrical stimulation through surface electrodes Although research seems to be inconclusive as to the benefits of this type of treatment, my Mother treated her pain with a TENS unit, for years, and felt it was a great help.

The frills...

Massage chairs and recliners - Created to mimic the fingers of a massage therapist, massage chairs have built-in electric rollers, nodes and air bags, which offer massages in varying degrees of intensity.

Massage therapy - A massage, when used as pain therapy, is designed to target muscles groups that are contributing to pain, and provide relaxation for the mind and body.