{"id":7103,"date":"2019-07-05T06:50:46","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T06:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7103"},"modified":"2021-06-11T19:23:59","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T19:23:59","slug":"14-expert-advice-tips-for-lumbar-radiculopathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-expert-advice-tips-for-lumbar-radiculopathy\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Expert Advice Tips for Lumbar Radiculopathy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In most cases of lumbar radiculopathy, conservative treatment options such as physical therapy provide better and quicker recovery rates than those provided by surgical interventions or with the prescription of opioid medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, it is always a good idea for a patient to actively seek out different treatment options, as opposed to relying on medical professionals to fix them. As with most things, prevention is always better than the cure and ensuring certain things are in place like good posture and correct seating options are a good way to keep lumbar problems at bay in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of trawling through the internet in order to find the best advice for dealing with lumbar radiculopathy, you could do a lot worse than by looking at this list of 8 expert tips for dealing with the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised to find out a few top tips and you might realize you already knew the answers to your own questions.
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1. \tProtect the area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A good way of avoiding further injury <\/a>to the area is by avoiding any activity that might place an unnecessary strain in the lumbar spine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could include heavy lifting or repetitive stepping on a hard surface, Whilst avoiding excessive strain is a good way of avoiding worsening the symptoms, it is also advisable to refrain from taking complete rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a bit of a balancing act when it comes to protecting the area and it is entirely possible to be too careful. That said, heading to the gym for some squats and lunges is probably not the first thing you should plan on doing with this condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It used to be the case that people were told to completely immobilize the area until the pain stops, but as research and experience have developed and progressed, the idea of protecting the area has to be taken with a pinch of salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. \tAvoid too much bed rest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Almost in contradiction to the previous tip, this one advises people suffering from lumbar radiculopathy to avoid taking too much bed rest as it can actually be counterproductive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some bed rest might be a good idea, but staying in bed for too long can cause the muscles <\/a>to relax too much and weaken. This can make recovery much more complicated as the muscles in the back become used to not having to work as hard as they might have previously been expected to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can sometimes seem like hard work for a person suffering from lumbar radiculopathy just to be upright, and therefore it can almost seem unkind to deny them the chance to lie in their bed, but the truth is that it really wouldn’t do them too much good in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little bed rest might be a good idea in the early stages, but keeping things moving might be a much more appropriate long term solution.
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3. \tStay active<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned in the last tip, staying as active as you can is the best way to help the recovery from lumbar radiculopathy. You don’t need to go on a 20-mile hike or embark on a gym session to stay active, simply keeping busy around the house might be enough. Short walks, either indoors or in the neighborhood can help a person reduce stiffness <\/a>and soreness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mental effect of keeping active shouldn\u2019t be overlooked either, as it is much more beneficial for someone to be out and about than to be cooped up inside. Staying active can seem like an uphill task for someone who is in real pain, and so a little and often approach is the best plan of action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gradually increasing the length and the frequency of the periods of activity is generally the best way to incorporate this tip into your recovery, but it\u2019s always a good idea to listen to your body.
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4. \tUse ice packs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ice is a wonder treatment for so many different things and lumbar radiculopathy is just another condition that ice can be effective in treating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying ice packs to the sore areas for around 15 to 20 minutes a day at a frequency of every 2 to 3 hours is a good plan to follow as this can provide long-lasting relief from the pain and can also help to reduce swelling<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When using ice packs it is a good idea to ensure that the cold source doesn’t come directly into contact with the skin. Using a towel to wrap around the ice pack or the packet of frozen vegetables is a safe way of applying the cold source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice baths are something that so many professional athletes use after training and competition, but you don\u2019t have to subject yourself to fully submerging into an ice bath when a smaller application on the affected area will do the trick.
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5. \tSit in firm chairs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soft couches and easy chairs may make lumbar radiculopathy problems worse than they already are and so it is advisable for people suffering from the condition to sit in firm chairs wherever possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many chairs offer lumbar supports as part of their specifications and this kind of chair offers the best support for people dealing with a range of different types of back pain<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding a comfortable sitting position is half the battle for people living with bad backs and so it is important to remember the other expert tips when comfort has been achieved. Just because you might be comfy doesn\u2019t mean you should sit back and relax for too long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping active is just as important as finding that ever so elusive comfortable sitting position, so get up and move around whenever you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to choosing furniture for the home, it is a good idea to check the lumbar support options for sofas and dining chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. \tConsult Physician<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you speak to your physician about the other options available. These might include the types of medication <\/a>you can take or certain diagnostic tests you may be able to try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to dealing with bad backs, people can sometimes be put off from asking questions due to the apparent lack of options, but persistence is the best plan of action. There are more options than people might think and only by asking the questions over and over again will you uncover any potentially helpful avenues to explore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dealing with lumbar radiculopathy can be a frustrating experience at the best of times and so finding out about the various treatment and diagnostic options available could help a person find the option that is best suited to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is certainly true that what works for one person will not necessarily work for another person and so variation in methods is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. \tWater Exercises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exercising in a pool can be a great option for people who find conventional exercise to be much too painful. The fact that water allows people to exercise with less pressure <\/a>and impact can be incredibly liberating and very beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even for people who are young and usually mobile, starting the road to recovery with gentle water-based exercises can be beneficial to everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training in water can either be done in isolation or as part of an aqua therapy class. Water exercises must be performed safely and with some guidance to ensure that no additional harm is being caused by the activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a successful period of time exercising in water, a person may want to introduce some non-water based activity and exercise, even if just to test out how the body responds to a little more challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercising in water can be really fun too, aside from how useful it can be.
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8. \tTalk to someone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dealing with back pain can be incredibly draining and psychologically difficult to deal with. There is a high correlation between people living with back problems and mental health issues such as depression<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is even research to suggest that people with back conditions such as lumbar radiculopathy are more likely to commit suicide or to have suicidal thoughts than the vast majority of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking to someone could be key and there are plenty of people who will listen, especially when you consider that the vast majority of people will be affected by some kind of back pain at some point in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internet can be a great tool in helping sufferers reach out for support and encouragement, as there are a great number of online support groups and communities of people dealing with the same condition, ready and waiting to offer their advice. Don\u2019t suffer in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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