A rest is as good as a cure…

Perhaps surprisingly, one of the most obvious natural treatments for
back pain is also one of the most effective. Even if you are suffering
from something as apparently serious as a slipped disc, it is quite likely
that your medical practitioner will recommend flat bed rest as the first
cause of treatment.
It is also likely that he or she will also prescribe inflammatory drugs and
painkillers as well, but, as previously suggested, you probably don’t
want to take these if you are looking for a natural cure for your back
pain problems. Moreover, the fact the bed rest is considered to be a
practical treatment for such an apparently serious condition should give
you some indication of how highly rated rest is as a back pain
treatment, and there could be nothing more natural than rest.
Even if you have nothing more than a muscle strain, bed rest is a great
way of reducing the severity of the pain, but you should not stay in bed
for more than two or three days, because doing so can actually make
the pain worse rather than better.
Knowing this, the next thing that you must know is that your choice of
bed is an absolutely critical factor in how much back pain relief you will
get from flat bed rest. However, this does not necessarily mean that
you should invest in a bed that is described as having any particular
medical properties, or as an orthopedic bed or mattress.
In fact, according to research in the UK, the majority of orthopedic
mattresses are too hard, and as a result, only 6% of experts would
recommend an orthopedic mattress to back pain sufferers.
What you are looking for is a bed mattress that is firm and supportive,
as opposed to being hard. Furthermore, if you are a regular back pain
sufferer, you should also consider changing your bed more frequently,
because older beds and mattresses are less likely to give you the
support and comfort that you need to alleviate or perhaps even get rid
of your back condition.
There would also be an argument here for spending as much money as
you can afford on your next bed if you are a constant back pain
sufferer, because it does seem from all available research that sleeping
in or on a high-quality bed can make a significant difference to your
back pain problems.
Obviously, everyone who suffers a back pain condition has a slightly
different problem and therefore there is not one ideal sleeping solution
that covers every back pain sufferer. For this reason, you must be
willing to do a little research when you buy your next bed. That bed could be the difference between your continuing to suffer back problems
for as long as you sleep in it, or solving your problems in a matter of
weeks.
No matter where you live, your local bed store will offer dozens of
choices, but do not be persuaded by a sales person to take the bed that
they believe is best for your back problems (‘but everyone who has a
back problem buys the Super-ABC bed!’).
Find beds that seem to have the appropriate degree of firmness and
support, and test every one for at least 10 minutes in your normal
sleeping position. Do this and your back will very soon tell you whether
you are looking at the right bed or not!
Is the bed the right height for you to get in and out without any back
pain or discomfort? If it is so low or so high that entry and exit are
likely to exacerbate your back problems, you should move on to the
next option immediately.
Buy as big a bed as you can afford, particularly if there are two people
going to share it. This ensures that you or both of you have plenty of
room to move, which should help with a good night’s sleep.
Finally, do take time to consider the pillows that you use, and how
many of them you generally sleep with. If your pillows are too high,
they could significantly alter the shape and angle of your body during
sleep, and if your shape is not good, this could offset the benefits that
you hope to gain by getting a new bed in the first place.
Also, think about your individual sleeping position, and try to find one
that appears to put the least strain on your back.