What to do if your lumbar spine hurts after sitting for a long time

There is always a group of people around us who will stand up and hit their waists after sitting for a long time. That is, they have back pain after sitting for a long time. There are many reasons for this. Some people have ankylosing spondylitis, some have lumbar muscle strain, and some have lumbar disc herniation. It can be said that the causes are different. Therefore, what the editor will bring to you today is, what should we do if we have lumbar pain after sitting for a long time? Is there any way to relieve it?

Treatment for back pain

Preface:

Data from a survey show that different standing and sitting postures cause different pressures on the intervertebral discs in the back of the human body. For example, if the pressure between the vertebrae when standing upright is taken as 100 units, when standing and bending over to pick up something, the pressure rises to 200 units. If sitting and bending over to pick up something, the pressure is as high as 275 units! It can be seen that the more stress a posture bears, the less likely it is to be used for too long. Because the longer you use incorrect posture, the more damage your back will suffer! Moreover, the stimulation of pain is not only unbearable for the individual, but also makes it impossible for the patient to work and live normally. It will also cause significant losses in productivity and national economy to the family and society as a whole!

Among all patients with chronic pain, patients with low back pain account for the highest proportion. In the past, Taiwan was an agricultural society. People were hardworking and made their livings by farming or manual labor. Their daily diet was light and mainly consisted of vegetables, with little meat, fish, or seafood. Therefore, there were very few cases of chronic diseases or back pain. However, as we entered the 21st century, human life expectancy increased and society entered old age. People enjoyed social prosperity and progress, but work pressure doubled, the diet became westernized, and the amount of exercise decreased. Naturally, human physical fitness and health declined! With aging and the increase in chronic diseases, back pain has become an ailment that people from all walks of life cannot escape!

Who is prone to back pain?

Office workers and porters who do not like to exercise and have weak constitutions are most likely to suffer from back pain! In fact, the possible groups range from young people, adults to the elderly. Especially those who stand or sit for long periods of time, or bend over for a long time to carry heavy objects, such as drivers, shop assistants, porters, caregivers and computer users, are most likely to suffer from back pain due to fixed or incorrect posture. Other factors may be inner anxiety, dissatisfaction with work, family disputes, or frequent insomnia. Long-term distress and melancholy will cause physical and mental tension. Long-term pressure on the back muscles will also cause muscle pain, and the pain will aggravate the distress and anxiety!

How to treat back pain

1. Exercise therapy: Exercise can increase muscle softness and joint flexibility, and can also enhance muscle strength and endurance, thereby improving blood circulation throughout the body and relieving physical and mental stress. Exercise can also help prevent pain or help eliminate back pain. It is the most important and effective method for treating back pain. Currently, the best light exercises are Tai Chi, Qigong and swimming.

2. Push and press therapy: Push and press therapy can help release or reduce physical and mental stress and relax tense muscles. Therefore, it is also one of the important methods to eliminate back pain.

3. Traction therapy: This method helps to increase the distance between vertebrae for patients with intervertebral disc herniation and lumbar foraminal stenosis, prevent bone spurs or cartilage from compressing the nerves, and help relieve pain symptoms.

4. Acupuncture therapy: Acupuncture can promote the circulation of qi and blood, and has an analgesic effect, and is quite effective for acute pain. If the patient is suffering from chronic lumbar muscle strain, local warm moxibustion can be applied, which has the effect of relaxing muscles and activating blood circulation.

5. Physical therapy: including ultrasound, electrotherapy, hot and cold compresses and other methods. Ultrasound waves can penetrate deep into muscle tissue and generate heat, which helps relieve pain and swelling. Electrotherapy uses electrical stimulation to make muscle cells move regularly, relieving muscle hardening and cramps. Cold compress is suitable for acute pain within one or two days, and has the effect of relieving pain and reducing swelling; while hot compress is more suitable for chronic pain, and can improve local circulation and enhance tissue recovery ability.

6. Drug treatment: For those with local bruises, swelling, heat and pain, you can apply blood circulation, swelling and heat-clearing drugs externally. If there is no bruises but pain, you can apply trauma ointment externally. For oral administration, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics are generally used. Be sure to consult a doctor before using oral medications.