Ten Tips for Relieving Lower Back Pain

1. Feel you own pain.
   When your back gives the first sign of giving out, stop! Treating back pain sooner prevents even worse pain later
   
   
2. Sit up straight without crossing your legs.
   This takes pressure off the lumbar, or lower, spine.
   
   
3. Bed rest usually does not relieve back pain.
   You are likely to overcome back pain sooner if you keep moving, even very slowly.
   
   
4. Chiropractic treatment is most likely to help when the disk or disks that have degenerated can be clearly identified. If you have "general" back pain, your are more likely to benefit from exercise.
   
   
5. If you ordinarily sleep on your back, try sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your stomach permits the spine to assume its normal S-shape and relieves the stress of misalignment.
   
   
6. A child's backpack should never exceed 10% of the child's weight.
   The weight of the backpack should be distributed over both shoulders.
   
   
7. Parents who carry small children should switch arms used to hold the child, or use a stroller.
   
   
8. Excessive use of aspirin and other NSAID pain relievers, such as Tylenol, can actually cause degeneration of the pads between the disks of the spine. Alternate aspirin and NSAIDs with other pain relievers, such as capsaicin.
   
   
9. Don't avoid minor back pain when it comes time to exercise.
   Regular exercise of all the muscle groups is necessary to avoid imbalances that can aggravate existing back conditions.
   
   
10. Trying acupuncture for your back? Start taking 1 or 2 capsules of DL-phenylalanine every day about two weeks before you see your acupuncturist. You will get greater pain relief from the acupuncture if you do.