Back pain can be one of the most debilitating types of pain one can experience on a daily basis. It can prevent a sufferer from enjoying his or her life, and it can interfere with work or family relationships. It is important to take steps toward chronic back pain management immediately, but first a sufferer must determine the cause of the back pain. Once the root of the back pain has been diagnosed, one must take proactive steps toward improving daily life as part of chronic back pain management.
For many people, chronic back pain management starts behind the desk. Choosing an ergonomic chair that will support the back and promote better posture can actually help alleviate chronic back pain. An ergonomic chair will provide more lower back than a typical straight-backed chair or other office chair. The ergonomic chair will also promote better posture when reading, typing, or otherwise sitting at the desk for work; such activities can lead to lower back strain, which in turn leads to back pain, so an ergonomic chair can improve chronic back pain management by preventing undue stress on these areas.
Of course, sitting in any type of chair for too long can work against chronic back pain management. Even if the pain discourages the sufferer from moving too much, it is important that the sufferer get up and move around periodically, especially at work when it is likely he or she will be sitting for long periods of time. Moving around improves blood flow, and it encourages the muscles to loosen up and remain limber. Sitting for too long can also weaken muscles due to inactivity, leading to back pain as well as leg pain and strain in the neck and shoulders. For every half hour of sitting, one should get up and walk around for five to seven minutes.
Some sufferers may add medication or visits to a chiropractor to their chronic back pain management plans. Medication must be prescribed by a doctor and taken only in the recommended doses. It should also be viewed as a temporary pain relief, not a long term solution. Visits to a chiropractor may help or hinder chronic back pain management, as it does not work well for everyone. A chiropractor, however, may be able to recommend a course of action that will help alleviate back pain.