Backpacks are the best option if you have many things to carry with you, such as your phone, wallet, extra pair of clothes, toiletries, and other personal effects. It also works quite well, regardless of the age group you belong to. But what happens if it gets too heavy? Can it trigger or aggravate a lower back pain problem? If yes, what can you do to cope with the pain? Also, is it better to take ibuprofen for back pain, or should you opt for natural remedies instead?
Let’s get to know all the answers to these queries in our discussion below. Before we deep dive into how backpacks can affect your lower back, let’s review the common causes of back pain.
Back pain can result from various factors ranging from poor posture to a history of injury. To help you gain insights into managing pain effectively, we gathered some of the most common reasons for back pain problems here in the country.
The recent events have pushed a significant fraction of the US workforce to stay home for work. Sadly, this has resulted in poor posture development because of the lack of ergonomic furnishings, prolonged work hours, and the absence of a dedicated workspace. Consequently, this has also triggered a whole new set of problems, including chronic lower back pain.
While ibuprofen for back pain is the popular option used for this situation, it’s better to correct the posture problem with therapy or simple lifestyle adjustments. You can also use specialized equipment like posture correctors.
Did you know that about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis? This highly prevalent health concern causes weakness of the bone structures, which often begins at the upper part of the back and spread to the lower regions. Sometimes, when the condition progresses, it can cause fractures that can forever alter your spinal structure. It can also cause permanent disabilities that may be tricky to manage.
You may need to take bisphosphonates to slow down the deterioration of your bones. Additionally, your doctor or therapist might recommend bone-building medication if you have reached an excessively low bone density.
Kyphosis or round back is also another common back problem that can cause severe and chronic pain. It affects roughly 0.4 to 0.8 percent of Americans. When you get diagnosed with kyphosis, it means your spine has an excessive S curvature, causing your neck and upper back to lean forward. It causes upper back pain and stiffness that can radiate to your middle and lower back.
One of your best options in managing the pain from kyphosis is upper cervical chiropractic. It can help you correct the spinal alignment and minimize muscle stiffness and pain.
Around 2 to 3 percent of the US population have scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. It mainly develops at an early age, but it can also affect you later in life. Sometimes, it can arise from other disorders like muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
There are also instances when its origin remains unknown. Patients with scoliosis tend to experience varying levels of pain. It all depends on the severity of the curvature issue. If your back pain stems from scoliosis, you can look into pain relief options like physical therapy, spinal adjustment, or surgery.
Did you know that previous neck or head injuries can also cause persistent lower back pain? If you had a history of physical trauma due to an accident or sports-related injury, your neck bones might have shifted from their original orientation. As a result, the rest of your spine adjusts to provide ample support for your head. This puts pressure on the nerves, muscles, and joints along the spine.
Moreover, it can result in an uneven level of the shoulders and leg. It could trigger a whole new set of problems, such as a shooting pain sensation that extends to your hips and toes. Like in the case of kyphosis, you might find it helpful to seek chiropractic adjustment. By restoring your spinal alignment, you might successfully reduce the pain and promote speedy healing.
It can be pretty terrible to experience back pain that doesn’t go away. Unfortunately, if you have any of the conditions we listed above, you become even more susceptible to further damage if you carry a heavy backpack.
Backpacks' convenient size can sometimes become a source of problems for your lower back, especially on the joints, muscles, and bones. If you frequently carry a heavy bag, your backbones compensate by gradually shifting from their original alignment. Unfortunately, this unnecessary misalignment can cause severe problems like muscle stiffness and nerve compression.
A 2018 study explains that a backpack tends to apply 7.2 percent of its weight on the spine. Unfortunately, if you have an existing cervical or backbone misalignment, the pressure on your spine can multiply by up to 11.6 percent of the bag’s weight. In effect, your body tends to slump forward to support your ailing spinal column.
The more you keep using a heavy bag, the worse symptoms you will develop. It can also trigger or aggravate long-term and debilitating conditions such as herniated discs, sciatica, or altered gait and posture that can impact many aspects of your life.
Patients commonly use ibuprofen for back pain. It’s a fast-acting drug that may come in handy for short-term relief. However, the effects of such pain medication wear out quickly. For someone who experiences frequent bouts of lower back pain, this could become a source of frustration.
If ibuprofen for back pain is no longer in your top priorities in managing your symptom, we highly recommend trying upper cervical care. As we’ve mentioned in the previous sections above, upper cervical chiropractic care aims to restore your body’s vitality by fixing faulty neck bone alignment. This can help you soothe muscle pain in the affected areas and stimulate your body’s natural healing powers.
If you want to know more about this lower back pain solution, you can reach out to a local upper cervical doctor.
to schedule a consultation today.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
