Dealing with back pain is not fun. Waking up in the morning with a tight lower back and having those painful symptoms increase throughout the day is enough to test the sanity of any individual. Back pain comes in a variety of forms, sciatica being the most common.
Individuals suffering from sciatica, experience a sharp pain running from their hip down the back of their leg. The pain can be so intense at times that the affected individual may be unable to walk or bend over.
The sciatic nerve becomes trapped in-between the hip and the piriformis muscle, squeezing the nerve and producing symptoms of pain. Pain can be so intense that doctors prescribe opioid painkillers to reduce the sensation.
Lower back and upper back pain are less common, but it’s still a nasty situation for anyone. Fortunately, it’s possible to dramatically reduce your back pain without the need for drugs or surgery. Here are eight natural solutions for back pain relief.
1. Stretch in the Morning and Through the Day
Make stretching part of your daily routine and watch the symptoms of back pain disappear forever. The majority of back pain symptoms occur due to tight muscle groups. In the case of sciatica, you’ll need to stretch out the piriformis to release the pressure on your sciatic nerve and reduce the pain.
A stretch session doesn’t tire you out. Stretching rejuvenates the muscles and allows oxygen to enter muscle fibers. All you need to stretch is an open area, like the floor of your bedroom, and 10 to 15-minutes of free time. Stretch first thing in the morning and throughout the day as you begin to feel the pain return, the more you do – the faster you’ll recover.
One stretch session is enough to experience significant pain relief. Start your stretching by working on your hamstrings and lower back. Search for a few exercises on YouTube and start implementing them in your daily routine.