The 5 most common myths about back pain

We’ve all experienced back pain at some point in our life. While it can cause quite a dent in our routine, it is still not taken quite as seriously as it should be. Most of us ignore back pain and allow it to fade into the background while we go on with our day. This approach does nothing but prolong the pain and make matters worse. Back pain treatment should be carried out prompt and speedily before it turns into a bigger problem.

There are many ways to provide active pain relief for your back using pain relief products. You can also use simple tips to stay fit so your back gets the exercise it needs. However, most of us don’t know how to relieve back pain using proper methods. This is because there is a lot of misinformation around back aches.

Five common misconceptions about back pain, debunked:  

We’re often led to believe that back pain is just a part of life that you accept and deal with. This is completely untrue, looking for a permanent solution to back pain is important for your health. There are a great number of resources available for any back pain sufferer who seeks proactive pain relief and work towards getting rid of the pain and its source. In most cases, moderate workouts, back strengthening exercises and other measures effectively help you overcome your pain. The sooner you resume your daily activities and work outs, the better. You can also use active pain relief products to alleviate the ache.

If standard treatment measures do not help, ask for an evaluation from your doctor. Being in pain for a long period of time takes up a lot of energy, is stressful, and can have negative effects on your psychological wellbeing and on your immune system. The sooner you lose the misconception that back pain is an ailment that you have to accept, the faster you can get on the path to recovery.

Immediately after a back injury, resting can indeed be useful to alleviate the pain. However, the acute phase of the injury generally lasts only a few days. After the initial days of injury you should be focusing on how to relieve your back pain rather than resting it out. In the long run it is actually physical activity that will speed up healing and prevent re-injury by recalibrating your back and abdominal muscles. Talk to your doctor about tips to stay fit and strengthening exercises that are best suited for you and your condition.

Unfortunately, this is not true. Even with exercise, there is no guarantee against back injury or pain. Even good sportsmen can suffer from occasional back pain. However, the intensity and frequency of the backaches depends on how active you are, so it is still important to stay in good shape. If pain recurs constantly, then you should see a doctor. Generally, it is recommended to stick to a consistent exercise programme, including strengthening training and stretching for all muscle groups, as effective prevention against back pain.

Untrue. Fortunately, in most cases lower-back pain isn’t chronic. So it is only a matter of time before you will overcome it. Be proactive about it! The sooner you start moving again, the sooner you’ll get better. If you usually engage in heavy sports activities, it’s a good idea to give it a rest till your back pain alleviates, but lighter, less strenuous activities can be continued under your doctor’s guidance.

While good posture is important to avoid back pain, sitting upright for too long can turn out to be counterintuitive. Sitting straight all the time leads to one-sided use of your muscle groups. Dynamic sitting, i.e. moving frequently during the day or while you work, is the right approach to prevent lower back pain. Avoiding back pain can be as easy as little breaks from sitting and taking a small walk around your workspace every so often. 

Back pain is not untreatable. As long as you follow a routine that includes core conditioning and flexibility exercises, you can greatly contribute to getting rid of your pain by strengthening your back. Strong back muscles will help prevent re-injury and further pain as well. You can also use active pain relief products such as heat plasters. They are hassle-free plasters that alleviate back and muscle pain by inducing heat.

If you want to learn more about comfort during office hours, read here: Prevent Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain at Work

Please note that none of the above given tips or recommendations substitute medical advice. Important: consult a health professional in case of an injury or if you suspect overuse of joints or a medical condition such as a fracture. A physician should be consulted in those acute cases when the condition is accompanied by reddening, swelling or hyperthermia of joints, ongoing joint trouble or severe pain and/or are associated with neurological symptoms (e.g. numbness, tingling, loss of motion). For further information regarding Hansaplast products, please contact us via email on customer.care@bdfindia.com. Carefully read the instructions for use given in our products‘ packages.