Neck and back pain can be a nightmare to live with. Regrettably, it is a condition that affects many people. There are many problems that back pain can cause, in addition to the ache itself. One is losing employment. This can lose you money. You may also be out money from trying to cure your situation. Pain also makes it hard to enjoy time with your family and friends. Luckily, almost all cases of neck and back aches can be reduced without needing surgery or heavy medications. Things such as exercising, tai chi and yoga, a supportive pillow for sleeping, and lumbar support during the day can ease much of the hurt.

The first thing you should look into is starting an exercise program. It isn’t a thing that you wish to race into, however. If you exercise vigorously, you may injure a muscle. This can be a severe setback and lead to more hurt. You should, nevertheless, begin exercise because a sedentary lifestyle can make your present aches worse. Search for a DVD or a book that lists safe exercises for individuals with back pain. You can also speak to your physiotherapist or physician for extra guidelines. By taking your time and starting small, you’ll see improvements faster.

Two gentle types of exercise that may be right for you are yoga and tai chi. They work on both raising your strength and your flexibility. Both of these are central if you want long term relief from the pain. Just as with more physical exercise, you’ll want to take this slow. More advanced forms of yoga can cause brand new injuries. Beginner courses, however, are usually suitable to everyone regardless of personal well being and age. You can start with books or DVDs, but try finding for a local class that will fit your requirements. Again, it is always a smart idea to talk to your physician before you begin.

One affordable and easy change you can make in your life that can help alleviate pain is a change of pillows. When searching for a pillow for neck pain, look for one that will support you. It may be more firm than you are accustomed to, but with time you will be wondering how you slept on something so fluffy before. If it is a large change over what you are presently using, you should lie down for naps or short rest periods during the day before using it for seven or eight hours a night. This will give your spine time to adjust bit by bit and will reduce the probability of more pain. You’ll also want to look into supporting your lumbar region while you are awake. You can use a lumbar pillow, if you sit during the day, or a back brace if you spend most time standing. If your mattress is lumpy and you can afford it, you may want to replace your whole bed for added benefit.

If these things do not help, you may want to consider more serious measures. These should be done by talking to your repair. He or she might think that you could benefit from seeing a chiropractor, or that you might need to consider surgery later in life. To avoid this, you should always try to first change your life with proper exercise and good back and neck support.

Begin your pain free life by getting the right pillows. Before you make any purchases, check out the pros and cons of different brands to decide on the best one for you. Check out pillows for neck pain and bed rest pillows to find one that matches your needs.

Author

Sean Fox is a nutritionist and a blogger based in Illinois.