How to Prevent Back Pain and Neck Pain?

Most of us in our lives have experienced falling asleep in a weird position and then waking up with the most annoying stiff neck. If you try to move your neck, it hurts so bad! Sometimes, other events such as injuries to the neck can also result in neck pain.

Similarly, at times we think of ourselves as superheroes and end up lifting something too heavy or we take a fall. There comes in our back pain. It can be short-term or chronic, depending upon various factors such as a sprain, a fracture, a medical condition such as spinal stenosis or arthritis and excess body weight. A sedentary lifestyle is also a great contributor to back pain. Nowadays, even younger people complain of back pain, which is a result of longer screen hours and incorrect posture.
What can we do in our daily lives to prevent pain in our necks and backs?

Here are a few tips to avoid neck pain –

1.A new pillow – Most of the time, our pillows are the reason behind our stiff necks. You may not even realise that you’re using the incorrect pillow. The pillow that supports your natural neck curve and keeps it aligned throughout the night is the best. With some trial and error, you’ll find the pillow that is best for you.
2.Correct sleeping position – We all love to sleep in varying positions that we find comfortable, but the best sleeping position is the one where your head, neck and body is in alignment. Try sleeping on your back and to take the strain off of your neck, place some pillows under your arms. You can also elevate your thighs by placing pillows under them. This position helps relieve neck pain, as well as prevent it.
3.Computer screen at eye level – To prevent neck pain, try to adjust the computer monitor’s height in such a way that you don’t have to look down. With laptops, this is difficult, so you can use a book to place beneath it, to raise the height to your eye level.
4.Use earphones or headphones – Everyone loves to multitask. Oftentimes, we’re busy cooking, using both our hands and talking on the phone simultaneously. Putting your phone between your ears and shoulders and tilting your head sideways can cause extreme neck pain, over time. Instead, use headphones or put your phone on speaker.
5.Correct posture while texting – All of us look down on our phones each day, every day and that strains our necks too much. Try to raise the phone to your eye level and ultimately, minimize screen time. It is beneficial, not just for the neck but also the wrists, spine and eyes.
6.Regular exercise and stretching – Exercising regularly is beneficial for the whole body, even the neck! It helps maintain a good posture and ultimately relieve the tension from our neck. Exercises such as the chin tuck help strengthen the neck muscles tremendously.

To prevent back pain, follow these tips –

1.Maintain your weight – When you gain excess weight, your centre of gravity shifts and that strains your lower back. Hence, it is very important to maintain your ideal weight.
2.Sleeping position – The correct sleeping position is not only beneficial for the neck but also for the back. Sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst positions and can cause a lot of back pain.
3.Avoid lifting heavy objects – We tend to lift objects by bending over the waist, which is an invitation for back pain and injuries. Instead, bend your knees and sit in a squatting position whenever you want to lift something.
4.Maintaining the correct posture – While standing up, keep your abdomen tucked in and your head should be held up. Try to pull your shoulders down from your ears. This posture is essential in avoiding back pain.
5.Strengthen your back – Doing back as well as abdominal exercises can help strengthen the muscles and minimise the chances of any back injuries and pain.
6.Improving bone health – Weaker bones lead to osteoporosis later in life, which causes back pain, especially for women. So, increase your intake of vitamin D and calcium by consuming items such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and green leafy vegetables for strengthening your spinal bones.
7.Stop smoking – People who smoke are more prone to back pain as compared to non-smokers. Blood flow to the spinal disks is restricted due to the consumption of nicotine. Smoking also weakens the back muscles, making it prone to injuries. Thus, to avoid back pain, one should stop smoking.

When all these remedies fail, consulting a doctor might be necessary. At Germanten Hospital, Hyderabad, various back and neck conditions such as sciatica, spinal stenosis, vertigo and spondylosis are treated non-surgically.

The team of doctors at Germanten Hospital consists of the finest neurosurgeons, orthopaedic spine surgeons, physical therapists as well as neuro physicians. Spinal surgeries and procedures are performed in a minimally invasive way here, to make it less painful for our patients. Our NABH-accredited hospital has over 200+ beds and the most advanced medical technology available. Germanten Hospital has been awarded the title of the Best Emerging Orthopaedic Hospital in India, by the Times of India in 2019. It has also been named as the Best Orthopaedic Hospital in South India by the Economic Times in 2021.  

The spinal surgery team at Germanten hospital is led by Dr Mir Jawad Khan, a well-known orthopaedic surgeon. He has over two decades of experience in the field. To celebrate his achievements and effort, he has been felicitated with the title of Best Doctor by the ex-CM of Joint Andhra Pradesh & Former Governor Tamilnadu, Shri Roshaiah Garu in 2018. In 2019, he was honoured with the Vaida Ratna Award by the Honourable Health Minister of Telangana, Shree Etala Rajendra. Germanten Hospital, Hyderabad is your go-to place for all spine-related problems!