Summer 2006	Bye-Bye Back Pain
Feeling the pain? Try these simple strategies if you experience back pain: Take two aspirin. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, like aspirin and ibuprofen, can reduce inflammation. If they don’t bring relief, or if your pain is severe, ask your VA health care provider about prescription medication. Ice it. Apply an ice pack for 20-minute stretches for the first 48 hours. After that, try moist heat. Stick it out. Instead of staying in bed, stick with your normal activities as much as possible. Bed rest of four days or more can actually aggravate your condition.   Can chiropractic therapy help? Many people find relief for back pain with chiropractic therapy, a form of manual massage that corrects bone and joint misalignments. Ask your VA primary care provider if chiropractic therapy is right for you. You may be required to see a VA specialist before seeing a chiropractor.   For more information about back pain, log on to My Health eVet at www.myhealth.va.gov. Don't let a sore back keep you down Aching back? Join the club. Four in five adults have suffered back pain. In fact, it ranks among the chief injuries for men and women returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The back is a feat of biological engineering: More than 33 vertebrae form the flexible column that runs from skull to tailbone; between each is a cushiony disc, and holding everything together is a web of ligaments and muscles. With all those moving parts, there’s plenty that can go wrong. Back pain can have many causes, including poor posture, excess weight, muscle strain, a torn ligament, a slipped disk or mental stress that leads to muscle tension. Here’s how to keep yours healthy: Be posture-perfect. Proper posture is one of the first lines of defense against back pain. Keep your ears above your shoulders; hold your shoulders above your hips and your hips above your knees and feet. Move a muscle. Strengthening your leg, back and abdominal muscles can prevent back pain. Swimming is a good choice, especially if you’ve hurt your back before. Walking and cycling are also recommended. Lift it right. Use your legs, not your back, to lift heavy objects and save heavy lifting for later in the day, rather than first thing in the morning when muscles are stiff. Don’t sleep on it. The best way to spend the night is on your side with a pillow tucked between your knees. Lose excess weight. A bad back and extra pounds are not a good combination. Slim down and your back will benefit. Don’t smoke. Smokers tend to have lower levels of oxygen in their spinal tissue, which slows recovery from back problems.
Summer 2006 VA Health Care, Leading the Way | Caring for a New Generation | Stroke Alert A Diet to Protect Your Brain | Bye-Bye Back Pain | Get a Good Night's Sleep Health Fraud Alert! | VA News and Updates | Wellness Programs

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