Maybe you missed my last post about how to shovel snow without getting back pain. Maybe you saw it but just got carried away and picked up too much snow at one time. Or maybe you thought you did everything right but are still dealing with back pain. Either way, the pain is here. So…
What Do You Do About Your Back Pain From Snow?
The first thing you want to do is figure out where the pain is ;figure out how bad it is. If the pain is localized, that is way better than if the pain is shooting someplace like down your leg. If the pain is shooting, you don’t want to mess around with that too much. Give it a day or 2 to see if following some of these tips starts to help. Seek help quickly if the pain stays the same or gets worse.
The next thing is to locate the pain. If the pain is centered in the low back area, that is the best scenario. If the pain is shooting, the farther it shoots, the worse the problem.
Here is what to do for Snow Back Pain
Ice is your best friend right now. Ice will keep the swelling down in the joints which will help keep the pain level low. Use a gel pack that is frozen and wrap it with a DAMP cloth. A dry cloth will keep the cold from reaching your body effectively and a pack with no cloth could freeze the skin.
Ice should be applied for 15-20 minutes at a maximum at a time. Then put the pack in the freezer for 45 minutes and repeat. I would do it as often as possible especially for the first 24 hours or so.
If you can pinpoint the back pain to muscles, Heat can be a big help Heat attracts blood to the area and the blood brings the nutrients the muscles need for repair. The back pain caused by shoveling heavy snow is often related to muscle strains. Magnesium is something great to help soothe those muscles.
