3 Unusual Ways I Deal With Back Pain So I Can Get Back to Playing with My Twin Toddlers

It is not always about ice and rest

It is not always about ice and rest

Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

One of the best things about being a father is the opportunity to spend time with my children. When that opportunity comes with an acute back pain episode… not so much.

Picking up and playing with my twin toddlers has taken a toll on my back. Having been to the doctor, I know that there is nothing structurally wrong … just strained and inflamed muscles. To get back to playing with my twin toddlers, I took an unusual approach.

Typically, doctors might recommend ice and rest, but research is showing that the opposite may work best for this kind of back problem. The key to bouncing back is heat and movement, not cold and sitting still.

The research is not conclusive, but it is promising and worth a try. Here are a few ways that I’ve tried to apply this new research.

Relax into child’s pose.

Child’s pose is easy to learn yoga pose and helps calm and relax your body. To get into this pose, simply get on your knees and fold forward like a bow. You can keep your arms close or extend them, whichever is most comfortable. Taking deep breaths will help you relax both mind and body. Though it may take a minute or two, you will feel your muscles release.

Next, get up and move around. In my case, I could move around my house, take a shower, and even work on breakfast. My back was not completely fine, but it had improved enough that I could continue to help around the house.

Keep moving.

You don’t need to do anything too intense, just try to stay active. I kept moving around the house, doing whatever I could without stressing my back out. For example, I would put my children’s clothes in the laundry, wash dishes, and even take out the trash.

While this may sound like a lot, it’s actually not too much to do. As long as you’re not doing something too intense, like playing a sport or doing anything too demanding, movement will help you back keep flexible.

Stand up at your workstation.

By afternoon, I could stand up and go back to work. At first, I was careful to avoid standing up too fast or forcing my back into a position that it wasn’t ready for. If things got to uncomfortable, I would change positions. Though my back pain didn’t go away entirely, I could focus on work for quite some time.

The worst thing you can do is sit down and keep you back immobile. The key is to move around. By doing so, you are more likely to get a full recovery.

Take a warm bath.

A hot bath is the best thing for a sore back. You can soak your back in a hot bath or take a long shower. Try to get the water as hot as you can stand and keep the water as hot as possible. In a matter of minutes, your back will feel better, which will definitely help you sleep.

In my case, it took a few days for my back to fully recover. However, I could keep moving around, which made a big difference in my recovery. If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s important to get it checked out by a doctor. They can give you the right advice and help you keep moving. Of course, I’m not a doctor, and you should get checked out if you haven’t.

Remember that this back pain is usually a temporary problem but should not be ignored. You should see your doctor if your pain doesn’t get better after a few days. If you are experiencing back pain, visit your doctor as soon as possible. You may have a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. This can include a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or even a fracture.

It’s important to listen to your body and do what it takes to get back to feeling good. I hope some of these strategies work for you.