My own interpretation has led me to conclude that when it comes to sitting and sleeping, go with what works. If sleeping on a hard mattress or soft mattress makes you feel better and helps to reduce your pain level, go with it. The same can said for using a lumbar support recliner or other type of lumbar support when you sit. A lumbar support recliner might just be the most effective way to support and relieve pressure on your lower spine.

Recliners remain a very popular item of home furniture. There has yet to be a substitute for the comfort of a well made recliner. Many of us with chronic pain find that using a recliner provides relief from pain at least while we are sitting. Even though most recliners are designed to provide some level of lumbar support, adding a lumbar support to your recliner may increase your level of comfort and reduce your level of pain. Some recliners are designed to raise your feet above the level of your head. Often referred to as zero gravity recliners, the recliner also places your pelvis in a position that is said to relieve pressure on the lumbar spine.

An adjustable lumbar support allows you to customize your recliner. Like snowflakes, no one of us is exactly alike. So it makes sense that a one-size-fits-all approach to furniture design does not adequately address this fact. Even those recliners that feature massage and heat capabilities may not have the level of lumbar support needed for maximum comfort. In fact, use of a lumbar support cushion is recommended by medical experts for treating back pain associated with degenerative disc disease and other lower back problems.

As we age, many of us find that our lower back starts to give us trouble. The causes of low back pain can range from the natural aging process to injury or trauma. The only neurological malady that occurs more frequently that low back pain is the common headache. As part of a comprehensive treatment regimen, the use of a lumbar support recliner can help to reduce pressure on the lower back and possibly relieve pain.

The Aging Back

The natural aging process brings with it changes to the spine that can cause lumbar back pain. Between each of the vertebrae is a disc serves several important functions. The disc acts as a spacer between the vertebrae and, with the help of muscle and tendon tissue, keeps the spine in proper alignment. The disc also acts as a shock absorber, relieving pressure on the bones of the spine. Inside the disc is a gelatin-like substance surrounded by two layers of tissue. The inner layer of dense pulp-like tissue is covered by a tough outer layer of fibrous tissue.

As we age, the discs can go through some profound changes. The disc can become stiff and dry, losing the ability to support the body’s weight. The disc will shrink in size reducing spacing between the vertebrae. Believe it or not, we actually get shorter as we get older and degeneration of the discs is the culprit. As pressure increases on the disc, the outer covering can rupture causing the gelatin-like core to bulge out. The rupture can cause pain and discomfort.

In the disc spaces of the lumbar vertebrae are the sciatic nerve roots. The sciatic nerves travel through the pelvis and down the length of the legs. These nerves provide both motor and sensory impulses to the legs. When the rupture or bulge occurs between the fourth and fifth lumber vertebrae, the disc can compress the sciatic nerve root. The pressure on the nerve root can cause pain to radiate through the hip and into the leg. Over time, damage can occur to the nerve root that is irreversible. Sciatica can be very painful and often requires surgical intervention.

Back Pain Costs Money

By some estimates, Americans spend over $50 billion per year treating lower back problems. Putting aside the financial aspects, the human cost can be much higher. Pain, discomfort, frustration and the inability to live life to the fullest is difficult to measure in dollars. In a medical irony, many people with degenerative disc disease and other back problems are asymptomatic meaning these folks experience no ill effects from their condition. The pain and frustration sometimes leads people to seek out treatment modalities that are, at the least ineffective and possibly even dangerous.

From magnetic belts and magic elixirs to outright quackery, we have been bombarded with claims about of miracle cures for back pain. For many years, companies would require their employees to use lumbar support belts. Complete with suspenders, the lumbar support belts are still promoted as a way to reduce the number of work-related back injuries. After being in use for some time, recent studies would indicate that the belts are not very effective. So after millions of dollars worth of belts and training, the lumbar support belts may not have been the answer.

Only a qualified medical doctor is able to correctly diagnose and treat lumber back pain. When it comes to coping with lumber back pain, remaining pain free while sitting or sleeping can be a journey of self-discovery. There is no substitute for receiving quality medical care that includes an accurate diagnosis. Always ask your doctor if the use of a lumbar support recliner or other device is appropriate for your situation.