As we get older, little by little our body starts to experience new sensations. One of the most common signs everyone experiences is aches and pains. Though we usually ignore these in the beginning, they can really affect our day-to-day life. These aches often creep in slowly and become a part of your daily routine before you even notice.
In this list, we’ll talk about 9 visible signs that show you’ve reached the “back ache” stage of life. We’ll cover both the physical difficulties and the small tweaks you might make to feel better.
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You Wake Up Feeling Stiff
When you wake up in the morning, your lower back may feel tight, and bending or twisting can be hard at first. This stiffness is a common sign of aging. Once you wake up, you can stretch a bit and it helps you loosen up. Then start moving around. However, if you sleep in a bad position or on an old mattress, this stiffness can get worse. So, try buying a better mattress and sleeping in the correct position.
Sitting for Too Long Hurts
You’re sitting and reading your favorite novel, sipping a cup of tea, but after a while, that familiar ache starts in your lower back. You may need to stand up and stretch just to get some relief. To help with this pressure on the lower back, you can use cushions or lumbar support. But with this back pain, you might find it challenging to go on long car rides or sit at a desk for long hours.
You Find Yourself Avoiding Certain Activities
You skip activities like bending or lifting to prevent backaches from happening. You stop running and instead choose gentler activities, such as walking or swimming. Slowly, you change your daily routine and these changes become a part of your everyday life.
You’re Constantly Adjusting Your Posture
Even if you’re sitting at your desk or relaxing on the sofa, you try to shift to a more supportive position to avoid back pain. You are more concerned about your postures now. Over time, this becomes second nature.
Pain Shows Up After Physical Exertion
If you have always been a garden lover, you might love to spend time in the garden doing light tasks like weeding. But these activities can also leave you sore and you need more time to recover now. So, you may work carefully trying not to pull a muscle.
You Start Using Pain Relief Creams or Patches
You rely on pain relief creams or patches to ease your back pain. You buy creams, patches and gels that are ideal for sore muscles. You keep them close by, like in your bag or by your bed. After a long day or tough activity, you apply them for relief.
You Need Extra Support for Your Back
You use pillows to support your back when you are sitting or lying down and wear braces or belts whenever you are doing physical activities. You know that this extra support helps to keep your back comfortable throughout the whole day.
You’re More Aware of Back-Friendly Exercises
You’re more aware of workouts that are meant to strengthen your back. You do stretches and movements that will help ease your pain. You do not engage in high-impact exercises. Your exercising routine includes gentle activities like Pilates and yoga.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.