Back Pains: Facts, Myths, Misconceptions and Tips to Help You Recover

I tossed, turned, sat on one cheek, then the other, knelt and finally stood up and gave up on the fight. The burning pain on my back was too stubborn so I took a walk outside, angry that the pain had disrupted my line of thoughts on a story that I enjoyed to write.

This was not the first time the pain was becoming unbearable, it had actually driven me to befriend a chiropractor on my line of duty hoping I would discover a lasting solution.

Back pains can really take away all the joy in your life, make you irritable and this will only be compounded if your job involves a lot of sitting down as mine does. I decided to catch up with my chiropractor and gave her a call, after all, she said I should feel free to call her anytime. She is always a joy to talk to and one would mistake us for longtime friends, never mind, I have never met her. Do not doubt her existence; I got to know through a friend who was her patient and got total deliverance from this bondage of pain. Below is what the good Chiropractor had say.

Misconceptions

The misconceptions surrounding back pains are overwhelmingly uncomfortable. Kenyans somehow have managed to relate sex, lineage, lifting of heavy things, body type, exercise and even the mattress type to back pain.

FACTS

1. Sex

Having too much sex or totally abstaining from the sacred act cannot be a cause of back pains. The two have no relation unless you decide to review your posture during the act that could be straining your back.

2. Lifting Heavy Things

Lifting heavy things will not impact negatively on your back if you ensure to do it right. Stand directly in front of the object you intend to lift, squat with your back straight and head up

Don’t twist and bend lest you injure your back. However, don’t go lifting loads that are past your body’s capability.

3. Body Type

Being skinny is no assurance that you will not experience back pains but, oddly enough, losing pounds if you are overweight or obese could solve your backaches. The extra weight puts pressure on your back which causes you the pains. Don’t avoid food in the name of losing weight too, research on healthy weight loss programs. Thin people especially those with eating disorders like anorexia, could suffer bone loss and are most likely to get broken bones and crushed vertebrae.

4. Exercise

Exercise ought to be everybody’s friend; it is advised that one should take at least 30 minutes to exercise. Regular exercise prevents back pain.

Doctors actually recommend guided exercise for people who have recently hurt their lower back. They are advised to begin with gentle movements which gradually build up in intensity.

5. The firmness of Your Mattress

A firm mattress is not an assurance of a healthy back, in a Spanish study; people with general back pain slept on medium-firm mattresses, they hurt less and were able to move better than those who slept firm mattress. It is however said that one man’s meat is another man’s poison so kindly choose your mattress depending on your sleeping habits and posture.

Back pain is common amongst a majority of Kenyans and is mostly overlooked with a myriad of reasons hindering Kenyans from seeking professional help. Awareness needs to be created to separate the myths and the facts. Diet contributes to the whole body’s health and exercise is vital to ensure a strong body, my chiropractor also said to drink sufficient water, eat foods that are rich in calcium, avoid sitting in one position for too long, place my feet flat on the floor and not to cross them, and take breaks to walk so as not to sit for too long.

It has been a fortnight and I have not had to type while on my knees again because of the pain so my Chiropractor never disappoints.