Bed Rest is Bad for your Back Pain!

Drama queens love milking their back pain for everything it’s worth. “Stuck” in bed, they’ll ask their significant other to wait on them hand-and-foot. But is bed the best place for those with a bad back?
Conventional wisdom has had us all thinking, “Well, if I have lower back pain, then I should just stay in bed and rest.” Conventional wisdom, however, was/is wrong about this. It turns out that bed rest is not good for back pain.

Research has been done on this topic, and groups like the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Pain Society (APS) agree that people with lower back pain should stay active rather than resting in bed.

Our bodies were designed for movement and activity. Imagine if you stayed in bed the rest of your life– it wouldn’t be a pretty picture, right? Indeed, our bodies need to move and stay active in order to be healthy and in good condition.

If and when we rest “too long,” our muscles get stiff. They weaken. Ligaments and tendons lose flexibility. Meanwhile, our intervertebral discs can become dry and therefore less flexible, too.

All this is to say that those with lower back pain should not become idle. Instead, they should stay as active as possible despite their “bad back.”

Three things to consider doing when you have back pain include any activities that help strengthen your core, any stretches that help your flexibility, and any low-impact aerobic exercise.

If your back pain is so bad that you feel you can’t move, of course you can rest a little while. That said, don’t rest too long or you could become psychologically depressed and prolong your back pain. It’s important to get up, get moving, and determine in your mind that despite some hurting, you’re going to survive your lower back pain.

People with back pain often utilize hot or cold packs to relieve their suffering. They may also take non-prescription analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (such as Advil) or naproxen (such as Aleve). Better yet, instead of relying on drugs to relieve the pain, consider making an appointment with Lakewoods Chiropractic to deal with your lower back pain. Relief through chiropractic care helps many a bad back. Schedule your appointment today by calling 651-464-0800.