It's all too easy these days to make a visit to the doctor for a minor ailment and to be issued with an anti biotic of some sort.
What's really frustrating about this approach apart for the cost of issuing these drugs that in most cases the anti-biotic will have no effect because the cause of the ailment is a virus.
Many of us follow the same demanding approach when we get a back ache or pain.
Of course we all want immediate relief but is a constant supply of anti-inflammatory pain killers really the answer to our problems long-term? Firstly from a time perspective a backache, pain or lumbago that persists for over 3 months may be termed as acute.
So if you have only recently started to have a backache, the chances are it might go away within a few days or weeks and usually back aches and pains can go away by adopting a few self care measures or "natural cures for back pain" as follows: • Starting from the day one when the back aches occur, try to rest in a comfortable position.
One way of doing it is lying on your side with a pillow between your knees, or by lying flat on your back on the floor with a cushion under your knees.
Make sure that you don't become too passive in a single posture.
You could take a short walk, after every short spell of rest before reclining to rest again.
• The use of heating pads, has also known to be a backache treatment therapy, you can use a heating pad for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours.
You can also try a warm shower in combination to sessions of the heating pad.
In addition to this warm back pain treatment, you may also try cold sponging.
Although treatment with heat or ice may not help in every back pain scenario, but you can try them to see if they help.
You can also switch between heat and cold applications.
• As soon as you feel a little relieved, try doing your day to day chores.
This helps your muscles stay strong.
Staying in active for more than 1 or 2 days can actually make your backache or pain problem worse.
• Taking a walk regularly can do wonders to subside the pain in your back.
Even if your doctor has recommended more specific exercises, a good walk can be one of the best natural cures for back pain.
• You have to take it in to consideration, even after a successful treatment for pain in the back, you still stand vulnerable to a re lapse.
So take all possible precautions like, regularly exercising your back and stomach muscles, avoid abnormal angles when lifting heavy loads and most of all whatever you do make sure not to over exert yourself and end up injuring yourself again.
Having said all this about natural cures for back pain, it doesn't mean that drugs don't have a part to play.
You may have to resort to some pain relievers such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Aleve or Naprosyn.
Most medicines work best if taken on a prescribed schedule.