With a little planning, long road trips can be fun and relatively pain free. Here are some tips on making your summer road trips more bearable:
Get comfortable immediately: Take the time to make sure you are comfortable from the moment you set off on your trip. The smallest irritant in the beginning can turn into raging pain hours later. If your car seat provides little back support, roll up a towel or pillow and place it between your lower back and the seat for some more support. Don't sit on your wallet, cell phone or anything else that may throw your spine out of whack.
Bring an ice pack: Pack an ice pack in your cooler along with your snacks and drinks. Applying ice for about 20 minutes to where you're experiencing back pain is typically a good way to curtail any pain.
Alternate ice with heat therapy: Alternating ice and heat is often an effective way to combat back pain, so be sure to bring something that can provide warmth for your back.
Exercise at rest stops: Exercise is often a good treatment for lower back pain. Specifically, active back exercises keep discs, muscles, ligaments and joints healthy by distributing nutrients into the disc space and soft tissues in the back. Get out of your car to stretch, walk around to increase circulation and stretch out the back muscles.
Take the back seat: If your back pain is proving unbearable and the back seat is available, use it to lie down and rest. If your lower back pain is nagging, taking a nap may be an effective way to limit the pain.
If you continue to have back pain when you return from your trip, come visit us at Baltimore Back and Pain Center for a complimentary evaluation with Dr. Michael A. Dorn, Jr. DC. Call the office today at 410-662-4476 to schedule an appointment.
