Dealing with back pain is no fun.
What Caused My Back Pain? It’s Still a Mystery!
I went to bed one night only to be awakened in the middle of the night with the most horrible pinching in my lower back, right side. And for days I dreaded going to bed. And every time I got up from sitting on the toilet, it happened too. I was pretty much fine while up during the day, sitting, standing, walking but the moment I went to lay down it would happen.
I know I have had a pinched nerve for some time but this crazy pain was off the charts. I would think back to see if I could figure out what I might have done the days leading up to that jolt out of bed. Nothing drastic comes to mind except I had started a fitness plan with my granddaughter a few weeks prior but was feeling good. It could very well have been a tweak when using weights and moving at the same time. Really anything can contribute to it.
I would sit up with tears streaming down my face and Google exercises to help alleviate the pain. And finally found a few that helped. They didn’t fix it but they did make it somewhat bearable. Slowly bend to the right and left to stretch, bend over and hang like I’m reaching for my toes, do a slight backbend with my hands pressed in to the lower back……those helped a little. Then I found, through my Google search a tip on putting a pillow between my knees when sleeping on my side or under my knees when sleeping on my back (I need this stat). I think those two tips were the best so far.
I have been sitting on the couch in our cat room for long hours during the day. We decided I should buy a stool to sit on instead. This adjustable, swivel stool is great. I loved it for a day or two and then my butt was so sore lol. So we researched round pillows for stools and found the perfect memory foam cushion (I got it in red) for the stool. It is much softer but I still can’t sit long periods of time. That is a good thing though. I am moving much more during the day.
At the same time, I bought the cushion for the stool, I bought this gray back support pillow for sciatica pain relief. I use that when sitting on the couch, floor (who am I kidding, I hardly ever get on the floor anymore) and sometimes in my office chair.
I like it so far. I will also use it for any long car trips we take. Not sure if I’ll lug it on any flights though. We’ll see.
Unfortunately, there are literally dozens of reasons why my back pain could have reared its ugly head and really no way to identify what I did to cause it.
Back pain can be caused by many things:
Job
Do you work a labor-intensive job? If so be conscious of taking care of your back, your job might be the culprit. Or if your job requires you to stand or sit all day, that could also be causing your problem. Like I said above, I had been sitting a lot and since I work at home I have to pay more attention and get up and move more every day.
I do love my Kallax workstation from Ikea for a standing desk but I have the issue with my right leg going numb after about 10 minutes. I still stand and walk as much as I can before it totally goes numb and I can no longer feel it. I’m thinking at some point I would like a standing desk to go in our cat room (and light enough to move to other rooms in the house too) so I can easily stand and work. Something like this (need to measure the table in there to make sure it fits) looks awesome:
Mattress
Yes, your mattress could be causing your pain. There are a lot of great mattresses available, but not all are created equal. Or it just might be time to get rid of the old and buy a new one. We have a Serta iComfort bed and have loved it but I think it’s worn out it’s welcome. I would really like a Sleep Number adjustable bed. And I think we would go from a Queen to a King.
Exercise/Fitness
Yes, it’s true exercise can be dangerous for your back if you don’t do it right. But you probably already know that so just analyze whether the workout/exercise you’re doing could be the cause of your back pain. If it you think it might be that, then make sure to protect your back when working out.
I started doing daily Walk Away the Pounds workouts and I’m loving it. I think walking is very important and something most everyone can do and about the only way I can stay active right now. I did do some house cleaning this week which was a bit much but I replaced walking with vacuuming, scrubbing, going up and down stairs and a whole ton more for a couple days this week.
Weight
Your weight can play a role in back pain. Overweight people seem to suffer from back pain more often. It’s obvious that if you’re supporting a heavy load like me, you’re going to suffer. Many overweight people lead sedentary lives which leaves the lower back weak putting stress on the spine and body. I’m working on losing weight and strengthening my core muscles to help with back issues.
Your Vehicle
Do you drive a lot? The culprit could be your car or truck. Kev’s back was bothering him for a long, long time until we bought him a new car with fabulous lumbar support. That made the difference for him! He loves that car. If you’re not in the market for a new car though, you can always buy a back support lumbar cushion to help you while driving.
And lastly, your shoes could play a major role in back problems.
Shoes
Do your shoes provide plenty of cushion and support for your feet? You may have avoided the best shoes because you want to save money or be fashionable, but your back will thank you if you invest in a good supportive fitness shoe. I personally like a few different kinds and I think I am ready for a new pair myself. What are your favorite fitness shoes?
You can see my top 3 fitness shoe choices in my health and fitness gift guide.
It’s been about 4 days now that I have not had the pinch during the night. I think everything I did has helped and I also decided that I would only do walking workouts for a while. And it’s proving to be the right choice!
Speaking of walking, get ready for the April walking challenge. It starts this Sunday, Easter which is also my birthday! Yea can’t wait.
Make sure you are signed up here for the monthly fitness challenge and have joined our private Facebook group (you’ll get that info after signing up).
Oh and obviously it’s highly recommended that you seek medical attention should you have back pain.
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