This is the million dollar question many people ask when they suffer from chronic back pain! When a nerve in the low back becomes pinched or irritated, the body will protect the delicate nerves by keeping the body from moving and risking further nerve injury. The easiest way for the body to do this is to cause the back muscles to spasm in the injured area.

Once the body starts to feel pain, seek the services of a doctor of chiropractic for an examination to find the root cause of the back pain. Then, the right low back pain treatment can be prescribed. In the meantime, here are a few tips to see you through your low back pain:

• Give your back a break - According to research, people who don't pursue extreme treatment tend to have fewer complications than those who end up rushing into MRIs, x-rays, epidural injections, narcotics, and even spine surgery before it's truly necessary. As many as 90% of back-pain episodes resolve within 6 weeks, whether they're the result of an injury or due to a structural or nerve problem
• Pop a pill - A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can help ease the pain you're pushing through. Research has found that these may give slightly better relief than acetaminophen (Tylenol). Over long periods, NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal problems, so don't take them for more than 10 days without consulting your doctor.
• Go Hot and Cold – Go cold for the first 48 hours after the pain sets in, and put it to use for 20 minutes a session, several sessions per day. After those two days are behind you, switch to 20-minute intervals with a heating pad. Localized cooling shuts down capillaries and reduces blood flow to the area, which helps ease the swelling. Cold also thwarts your nerves' ability to conduct pain signals. Heat, on the other hand, loosens tight muscles and increases circulation, bringing extra oxygen to the rescue.
• Consider your mattress - A number of studies suggest that people with lower back pain who sleep on medium-firm mattresses do better than those with firm beds. If your mattress is sagging significantly or is more than 6 to 8 years old, consider getting a new one.
• Focus on your Feet - Some back trouble starts from the ground up. People whose feet roll inward when they walk (what's known as pronation) might be particularly susceptible to lower back pain.
• Get up - Taking it too easy is the enemy. Gentle stretches, walking, and periodically standing up can help stabilize your spine and prevent muscle imbalances. 
• Massage therapy - One study found that people who had massage therapy had less low back pain and disability after 10 weeks. General relaxation rubdowns worked just as well as structural massage targeted at specific parts of the body. Osteopathic and chiropractic therapies—in which joints and muscles get stretched and repositioned—have been shown to work, too.  
• Rethink your pain – Fear and anxiety can amplify pain. Because brain circuits that process pain overlap dramatically with circuits involved with emotions, panic can translate into actual pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you recognize and reframe negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Accept that you have pain and then tell yourself that it will get better!

Are you asking the question, “how to cure lower back pain?” Call McKim Chiropractic for more information about the DRS Protocol™, a non-surgical spinal decompression therapy which relieves back pain associated with spinal and disc problems. Our licensed and certified staff is happy to help the residents of Nampa, ID obtain a pain-free living.