Medically reviewed by Dr. Jen Palmer, ND -  Naturopathic Doctor

Back pain is so common that if you type it into Google, it responds with the availability of more than 99 million results. In fact, medical experts estimate that 80 percent of us will struggle with back pain in our lives at some point. And lower back pain specifically is the most common cause of disability worldwide than any other condition. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) cites statistics that show back pain is the third most common reason that people go to the doctor’s office, even though most cases “are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture, or cancer.”

Why Your Back Hurts

The reality is that most cases of back pain are simply caused by actions in everyday life. While you can sometimes identify the event that caused the pain – you felt a tweak when you picked up a heavy box, for instance – it’s also common that people sometimes just don’t know what brought it on. Common causes are:

• Exercising without stretching properly
• Slouching at our desks, picking up heavy items (or toddlers!)
• Overdoing it during yard work
• Muscle spasms
• A muscle or ligament strain
• An issue with how our spine is interacting with the rest of our body (which chiropractors can adjust)
• Age. As we age, back pain is increasingly common, starting in our 30s or 40s
• Being overweight or out of shape can mean our back is doing more work than it would otherwise
• Smoking. Side effects of smoking can include lower back pain that results from decreased blood flow to the lower spine
• Lifting things improperly (using our back instead of the major muscles in our legs), can affect our spine

There are two classifications for back pain: acute, for pain that happens suddenly and goes away in six weeks or less, or chronic, which lasts longer than three months. This article focuses on acute back pain relief.

It’s easy to see why finding ongoing help for back pain is so important to so many people. And why providing information about how CBDMEDIC products for acute minor back pain can help.

How to Reduce Back Pain

The Mayo Clinic says most minor back pain improves over time with self-care and home treatment. Depending on the cause of your back pain – a muscle strain brought on by exercise, or any number of reasons – you are probably dealing with some degree of inflammation. Simply put, inflammation is the body’s immune response to an injury or an intruder, like an infection or a toxin. Inflammation can mean an area is red, swollen, sore, or is not functioning as it would normally. Your immune system jumps into action to work on the problem.

When your back hurts, self-care is important to calm your body’s inflammation response and reduce your lower back pain. We’ve listed below several things that can help with back pain -- but remember, you know your own body best. This article does not replace the advice of a medical professional.

Rest

You may need to rest for a day or two if your pain is severe, but studies show that staying off your feet for longer than that doesn’t help. What does help is light movement, like walking, as soon as it feels possible.

Use Heat and Cold Therapy

Cold comes first when inflammation is at its worst; an ice pack or chilled gel pack (or even a bag of frozen vegetables) for 15-20 minutes every two to three hours will help reduce swelling, constrict blood vessels, and slightly numb the area. After a day or two, you can change to heat therapy, applying heat patches, a hot-water bottle, or a low-level heating pad to the area to stimulate blood flow and encourage healing. But don’t use these procedures if you have an open wound.

Medicate If Needed

The most common medications to help reduce back pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), the most common of which are ibuprofen and naproxen; both come in either over-the-counter or prescription strength. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants and/or opioids, but usually only when pain is severe, and for a short duration.

Stay Active, Within Limits

It may seem counterintuitive at first, but activity is one of the best ways to relieve back pain. The key is to do the right kinds of activity at the right level of exertion. Walking, swimming, yoga, low-impact aerobics, resistance exercises, and stationary cycling are all good ways to loosen and strengthen the muscles without going too far.

Apply CBDMEDIC™ Products

CBDMEDIC products for back pain combine the natural pain-fighting active pharmaceuticals of menthol and camphor to help with the pain. Also, these products are formulated with CBD. The Back and Neck Pain Relief Ointment from CBDMEDIC is the ideal cream for back pain, soothing, and calming specific areas –neck, upper back, or lower back – with a topical application. Each 40g tube of ointment contains 200 mg of CBD Hemp Extract and is formulated with other natural oils: argan, coconut, frankincense, honeysuckle, jojoba seed, and myrrh.

A 360-degree Approach to Back Pain

Back pain can be caused by many factors, including exercise, too much sitting or standing, improper lifting, obesity, or injury. In some cases, you should consult your doctor, such as if the pain is constant and intense, spreads down one or both of your legs, follows a fall, causes weakness or tingling in your legs, or is accompanied by new bowel or bladder control problems. But most of the time, acute back pain can be alleviated naturally with rest, cold or heat therapy, medication when indicated, and light activity, and products like CBDMEDIC.