How to Care for a Loved One Who Suffers From Back Pain

Chronic back pain can be an incredible challenge for someone to deal with. Their life seems to revolve around their pain and finding relief can be easier said than done. If you have a loved one with back pain, you hate seeing them suffer and want to do the best you can to help. Read on for useful tips to help you care for someone with back pain, from investing in a back brace to assisting them as needed.

Educate Yourself on Their Specific Pain

Back pain is not a one-size-fits-all challenge. Each person’s pain has different causes from another, and therefore varying treatment plans. To provide the best, quality care to your loved one, you will want to fully educate yourself on their pain. You will want to know the recommended treatments, rehabilitation methods, and proven comfort practices. 

The first person to help educate you will be your loved one. They are the one that is experiencing the pain and can describe what they go through and what causes them to feel the most pain. You can also encourage your loved one to keep a journal to log their pain to help track how they feel and continue to educate both of you on the pain. From there, talking with their doctor is a great resource to help both of you figure out how to manage the pain.

Invest in a Quality Back Brace

A back brace is a supportive, wearable device that can provide relief from back pain and aid in recovery.  Back braces come in a variety of sizes and feature elastic compression bands to deliver targeted relief. The benefit of a back brace is that it takes a great deal of pressure off the back, which can feel much more comfortable to someone suffering from pain. The brace also limits and supports healthy body movement to avoid further pain or damage to the back.

Encourage Appropriate Activity and Movement

It’s too easy to limit activity for those facing back pain because they want to prevent further pain as much as possible. But it’s actually better for the body to continue moving it as this helps prevent further damage and strengthen the area. Light activity and movement are what help relieve back pain. It’s a good idea to talk with a doctor or physical therapist for recommended activities that are safe when suffering from your loved one’s specific back pain.

As you care for your loved one, you want to encourage this movement as necessary. They may be reluctant to participate in the activities. Join in with them and make a bonding experience out of it. You want to show your support and be as helpful as possible.

Reduce Obstacles at Home

There are often triggers associated with back pain or activities that can worsen it. Whether your loved one lives in a different home or you have a partner with back pain, you want to assess the home for any potential obstacles. This could include stairs, hard-to-reach items, or everyday objects that require heavy lifting. Make adjustments where you can to prevent your loved one from potentially causing their back further damage or finding themselves in more pain. 

Assist With Daily Tasks

Some daily tasks can become difficult when someone is dealing with chronic back pain. Cooking or preparing food can cause stress on the back. A trip to the pharmacy or post office can bring on more pain. Talk with your loved one to get an idea of what tasks are becoming difficult for them to do or what is causing them more pain. Take over those tasks as you can and find solutions that they can manage when you’re not there (if you don’t live in the same house). 

If you don’t live in the same house as your loved one or you are out of the house you share with a family member, set them up with easy ways to care for themselves in your absence. Prepare meals for them to quickly eat out of the refrigerator or after popping into the microwave. Ensure books or devices are easily within their reach so they don’t cause strain. 

Conclusion

Chronic back pain can feel debilitating and it can get in the way of managing your everyday life. By helping care for a loved one suffering from back pain, you can help make their day more manageable and result in less pain.