Have you been dealing with a nagging pain in your upper back? Do you sometimes wake up and immediately feel pain shooting up your neck? If so, then you know how much it can impede your ability to perform common tasks.
Fortunately, there are several actions that you can take to relieve upper back pain and get yourself back on track.
Doing so can help you get rid of those chronic headaches and perform daily tasks without any repercussions.
See below for several tips on how to relieve upper back pain. Be sure to consider all these different methods to find one that works best for you.
1. Rest
As crazy as it might sound, the best thing that you can do to relieve back pain of any kind is to give it the proper time to rest. Anytime that you give yourself time to relax, your body will naturally go to work on fixing ailments, such as back pain.
There are two ways that you can go about collecting this rest. First, you can take a day or two off from work (or just use the weekend) to take it easy and perform as little rigorous tasks as possible.
Secondly, you can go about life as normal, but restrict the amount of activity that you do for the next few days. For example, if you’re big into working out, then taking a few days off from the gym will prove to be beneficial.
Be sure to consult with your doctor about which method they recommend for your specific pain. They can give you the thumbs up or thumbs down on taking medications for consistent back and neck pain.
2. Purchase an Upper Back Massager
A lot of the time it isn’t the spine that’s giving you discomfort in your upper back. The major muscles you have in your back can also be to blame, having too much tension built up in your upper back and around your neck.
Sometimes the best at-home relief can be given by purchasing an upper-body massager to relegate some of the pain. It allows you to tend to the pain while watching TV, having dinner, playing board games, etc.
The more that you use a back massager, the fewer muscle aches that you’ll have throughout the day. It will start to break down some of the tension that’s been ailing you the past few weeks, months, or even years.
Of course, this shouldn’t be your only way of tending to your back pain. But it can be a tremendous way to compliment plenty of other methods to relieve upper back and neck pain faster.
3. Visit a Chiropractor
If nothing you’ve tried has worked so far, then you’ll need a professional to take a look at what’s going on. Chiropractors specialize in providing adjustments to your spine and tending to the muscle groups around it.
One of the biggest reasons for your pain could be a misaligned spine. If you’ve never received chiropractic treatment before, then your spine has gone your entire life without being realigned. That’s cause for concern.
At the initial appointment, your chiropractor will ask you questions about your pain, take a few X-rays of your spine, and create a plan for how to fix the issues they find.
It’s a perfect solution because it takes the control out of your hands. You simply follow the instructions and homework that your chiropractor gives you after each adjustment.
4. Exercise More Often
This might sound a bit counterproductive to what you’re trying to accomplish, but exercise releases endorphins in your body, which are your brain’s solution to alleviating pain.
Make no mistake, this option isn’t for everyone. If you’re dealing with pain that makes it nearly impossible to move, then exercise could risk further injury.
However, if the pain is caused by tightened muscles, then exercise can help those muscles loosen and increase blood flow to them. Even something like walking and stretching your muscles daily can pay huge dividends later on!
5. Ice and Heat the Area
Perhaps no method of painkilling is more effective than taking ice and heat to the back and neck area. However, the cadence in which you do both is of vital importance.
Start by placing ice on the area for the first 2 days that you’re experiencing pain. Don’t apply any heat to it for the first 48 hours. Anytime that it starts to hurt, place ice on it for 15-minutes each time.
The ice will help to reduce the amount of inflammation (swelling) in that area, which occurs for the first two days of pain.
After those two days are up, it’s time to switch to using a heating pad for the pain. The heat will help increase blood flow, helping break up tension along the way.
It’s important to remember to also take over-the-counter medication while you tend to your wounds. Using anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can help you reduce the swelling for the first 48 hours as you continue to ice the pain.
Relieve Upper Back Pain With These Tips
Now that you’ve seen several tips on how to relieve upper back pain, it’s time to equip yourself with the right tools and take back control of your health!
Be sure to read this page for more information on why you can trust OSIM back relief products.
For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further!