When you think about jobs that cause back pain, you might first think of jobs that involve physical labor. You might assume construction workers, warehouse workers, and farm workers are the most likely to experience back pain at work.

While jobs that involve physical labor certainly carry back pain risk, many other jobs do as well. If you have any of the following jobs, you’ll need to take steps to prevent and treat back pain.
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When you start to develop chronic pain in your back, your first reaction is probably to start resting more. You’ll be more reluctant to stay active and spend more time lying on the sofa or in bed. However, back pain is a complicated beast, and some research shows that lying down all the time will not make things better.

Here’s what you need to know about how excessive rest affects back pain and what you can do instead. (more…)

After you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it will take you some time to really understand how the condition affects you on a daily basis. Some days, you might be almost pain free. But on other days, it may be tough to even wear clothing because you are in so much pain.

Flare-ups are unfortunately common with fibromyalgia, but they can sometimes be managed with a combination of medication and the avoidance of triggers. What triggers a flare-up depends on the person and the severity of the disease, but understanding common triggers and why they affect your body in such a negative way can help you take steps to manage your fibromyalgia. (more…)

If you suffer from persistent pain from an illness like fibromyalgia or from an injury to your neck or spine, your first line of defense is following the pain regimen your doctor prescribes, including rehabilitation activities. However, coping with daily pain is a complex challenge, and lifestyle choices can also have a mitigating effect.

Specifically, bonding with friends and family, enjoying social experiences, and receiving service from those you care about may modulate your pain levels. While engaging in social activities might not seem like a pain-killer, you’d be surprised how much it can help. (more…)

Sciatic nerve pain can be one of the most widespread and intense forms of pain. However, because sciatica is almost always a symptom rather than a condition of its own, it can be difficult to treat this nerve pain directly.

For long-term sciatica treatment, you will likely need the help of a pain management specialist and a physical therapist. You can learn more about the common causes of sciatica and how physical therapy works as a treatment for sciatica in our previous blog, “How Can Physical Therapy Help Sciatica?”

In this blog, we list seven techniques that can help you reduce the frequency and intensity of your sciatic nerve pain between appointments with your doctor or physical therapist. (more…)

The process to develop an effective approach to pain management is often complex. Your health care providers may have to account for several symptoms that aren’t necessarily directly related to the center of your pain.

For example, in our last blog, “The Connection Between Your Digestive Health and Back Pain,” we discussed how your diet and your digestive system health problems can contribute to spinal pain, and vice versa. (more…)

Have you ever heard that the gum you accidentally swallow sits in your digestive tract for the rest of your life? What about that spicy foods wear down your stomach lining?

There are a lot of myths floating around about what’s good and bad for your digestion, and some of them have been around for decades. Below, we’ll debunk a few of those myths and tell you what can actually impact your digestive health for the better. (more…)

Carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, can be uncomfortable and frustrating. But when you work a desk job, carpal tunnel discomfort may be unavoidable, and you may often be left with pain, tingling, or numbness spreading through your hand, wrist, or forearm.

And while CTS is a repetitive stress injury, it can be difficult to avoid the activities that caused the issue in the first place. But instead of simply enduring the discomfort on a daily basis, find ways to manage the pain and irritation.

Below, we’ll provide five tips for alleviating carpal tunnel discomfort. (more…)

The pain in your back or neck has become unbearable, so it’s time to visit the doctor and undergo corrective surgery. You can’t wait to live free of pain and to know that your body is strong again. But you also know that recovering from the surgery may take some time and lots of help from your doctors.

You will recover faster from your surgery if you have prepared your body for the procedure. You can take several steps both before and after the surgery to ensure that your body heals correctly and quickly. Start preparing now with the tips below. (more…)

If you’ve sought help for frequent or chronic pain, you are likely familiar with the role that inflammation can play in your pain experience. While inflammation may or may not directly cause your pain, reducing inflammation can minimize your discomfort on a day-to-day basis.

Your physical therapist, general care doctor, or surgeon performs specific treatments or procedures which diminish inflammation, either directly or as a side effect.

But what about the days where you don’t see a specialist? In this blog, we give you four strategies for minimizing inflammation between your physical therapy sessions. (more…)