You may be looking forward to the holidays and all the excitement of reconnecting with loved ones and family. However, holiday activities can trigger back pain and make enjoying the festivities challenging.
Fortunately, our Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists (IPRMS) team in Arlington, Virginia, proactively manages pain whenever possible. This means our goals include addressing your current symptoms and preventing future issues by tackling the source of your discomfort.
Check our team’s tips for reducing your risk of flare-ups and ensuring that back pain doesn’t derail your holiday plans.
Many people experience worsening back and neck pain during the holidays for several reasons:
Long hours spent shopping, standing as you cook, and bending and lifting while decorating add extra strain on your back.
You may also skip your regular exercise and stretching routine during this busy season, further stressing the muscles, joints, and ligaments that support your spine.
Sitting for long periods in cars, planes, or trains can trigger back pain and worsen the effects of poor posture as you increase phone or tablet time to lessen boredom.
The holidays can be stressful and emotionally draining. Stress often translates to muscle tension, especially in the back and neck.
Changes in your daily routine, such as shopping through lunch, decreased sleep, and other disruptions to your schedule also increase stress and its effects on your back health.
Nutritional imbalances, increased alcohol intake, and other holiday indulgences can also contribute to a general sense of malaise that may make it more challenging to ignore chronic pain.
Try these tips to avoid back pain from interfering with your holiday joy:
Regular physical therapy sessions, tailored exercises, and stretching routines can improve back strength and flexibility.
Strengthening your core can also support your back, reducing strain from holiday activities. Even light stretching in the morning and evening can go a long way in easing tension and preventing pain.
Pain management isn’t just about reacting when pain flares up; it’s about anticipating triggers and using proactive techniques.
Options like heat therapy, cold compresses, or non-prescription medications can reduce inflammation and discomfort. Consider yoga, meditation, or mindfulness practices if you prefer natural methods.
Whether you’re decorating, lifting heavy presents, or standing for long periods, practicing good posture can reduce strain on your back.
Always bend at the knees rather than the waist when lifting heavy objects. If you know you’ll be standing for a while, consider wearing supportive shoes and taking time to sit and stretch.
With a packed holiday schedule, it’s easy to overlook rest, but adequate downtime is important for managing back pain. Pause and give yourself time to recoup between commitments.
Our team at IPRMS is dedicated to relieving pain, restoring mobility, and improving your quality of life by preventing chronic pain from controlling your future.
Your treatment starts with accurately identifying the underlying cause of your discomfort, which in the case of back pain can include:
Based on your evaluation, we’ll develop a customized plan to resolve your current symptoms and prevent future problems.
Treatments vary and may include guided physical therapy, injections to relieve inflammation, activity modification, or radiofrequency ablation to block pain signals. We can also develop a plan to prevent back pain from spoiling your holidays.
Call 571-732-0044 to schedule a visit today.
