Medical Advice from a Back Pain Doc Near Me in Hackensack

1. Make yourself as comfortable as possible

The first thing you want to do before you go on the road is to make sure you are seated properly. Your position needs to be comfortable for your back, but also alert enough to keep your focus on the road. After all, you don’t want to be forced to find the highway exit sooner than expected because your lower back is getting more and more painful.

Make sure nothing is in your pocket when driving, as objects such as keys and wallets can really mess with the alignment of the spine. In fact, this is a thing you should do anytime you seat somewhere for more than 5 minutes.

As you drive, you may feel the need to slouch, but avoid doing it, as it can throw you out of focus and put a strain on your back as well. Ideally, your shoulders should be pushed a bit backwards and you should make sure your head does not tend to go forward. Press your back against the seat and make sure your chest is about 10 inches apart from the wheel. Use a lumbar pillow for extra support if necessary.

Try to avoid whole-body vibration

Whole-body vibration is a big issue for drivers and, if your job involves driving, it’s important to remember that spending too much time in a driving seat can put your back in real danger. The best thing you can do if you want to minimize risks is to try and avoid exposing yourself to too much vibration. In many cases, this comes due to the poor road infrastructure, but there are some small things you can do to increase your comfort:

• SUVs and Pickups can give out more vibration, so consider avoiding them
• Replace your tires when they wear off, as they will produce more vibration
• For an extra layer of support, invest in a coccyx cushion
• If you sense extra vibration, solve the issue before driving the car again
• Try to avoid bumpy roads as much as possible

3. Stop and stretch periodically

Driving, regardless of how comfortable you manage to make yourself, still entails sitting in the same position for a long time. This might result in a series of conditions, including neck pain, herniated discs, nerve discomfort, or chronic pain. This is why, if driving is your primary occupation, you need to include frequent breaks in your schedule. Ideally, you should get out of the car every two hours to stretch, move around, and relax your back.

For people who are already struggling with back discomfort, pauses should be even more frequent – every hour if possible. When you take those breaks, don’t continue to sit in the car, as this will only continue to harm your back. Instead, move around, stretch, go for a small walk and try to move your back as much as possible to prevent pain.

4. Improvised heat and cold therapy

Heat and cold therapy have been shown to be highly beneficial in the treatment of back pain. Drivers may now use heated seats to receive heat treatment without ever getting out of the car, thanks to advances in technology. Heat relaxes muscles and improves blood flow, which may be quite beneficial for back spasms. Some people use heated chairs even in the summer to assist them to relieve discomfort.

If your vehicle does not have heated seats, you can try a heated seat cover or a heated pad and place it on your seat. It serves the same purpose and is a much more affordable option than having to pay a visit to a spine surgeon.

Dealing with back pain is not easy and it can end up affecting your life quite significantly. The good news is, with proper treatment, patients often get rid of the discomfort without having to book appointments with orthopaedic surgeons and undergoing surgery. To be able to overcome the discomfort, however, it’s best to schedule an appointment with a board-certified pain doctor.

At Pain Treatment Specialists, our Harvard medical school-trained doctors are ready to assist you and provide minimally invasive treatment to help you get rid of the pain as soon as possible. If you were searching for a back pain doc near me in Hackensack, you’ve come to the right place! Our team of pain doctors are available in Bergen County and in other parts of New Jersey and New York and provide some of the best back care in the United States, so don’t hesitate to contact us now. You can find our Harvard-trained back specialists in New Jersey, in Paramus on Route 17, near the Paramus Park Mall, in Clifton, NJ, on Route 46 E, past the Ford dealership, in West Orange, near the Essex Country Club, and in Woodland Park clinic, on McBride Avenue, right next to Woodland Park Dialysis Center.