6 Medical Devices for Managing Back Pain at Home

There are many reasons why you may start experiencing pain – from aging to improper sleep to stress. These 6 medical devices can assist you in managing back pain and help improve quality of life. 

Life can be a real pain, and unfortunately, those aches and pains seem to increase in number over time as we age. Once most patients reach about 30, the spine, shoulders, and hips become more prone to injury and degeneration, both of which can increase daily pain levels. Temporary rest, heat, and ice can ease some of this pain, but too much rest can exacerbate it.

That has many patients wondering what to do about their back pain, especially if they don’t want pain medication. Surgery isn’t always the answer to managing back pain, and physio or massage alone doesn’t always give complete relief.

If you’re not ready to turn to medication, or if you’re looking for a good, safe adjunct to medication, medical technology may be the answer to managing back pain. You can use these six medical devices out of the comfort of your own home to help with managing back pain without surgical intervention or pharmacology.

1. TENS Machine

The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machine is every physiotherapist’s best friend for everything from myofascial pain to pain caused by joint degeneration.

The TENS machine works by sending out a very mild electrical current into your muscles and tissue. Electrical currents interrupt nerve signals while also signalling tense muscles to relax. This signal isn’t harmful, but for some patients, it keeps localized nerves busy so they can’t send pain signals to the brain.

TENS machines don’t work for every patient, but when they do, they can provide a sincere reduction in pain levels if worn for part or all of the day. The only downside is that many patients find relief temporary, but you can use your TENS safely and comfortably multiple times per day.

2. Rising Seats

Rising seats work with the body to reduce strain upon sitting and standing. They meet your body and ease you down into your seat with less strain. They then provide slight upward pressure to make rising from a sitting to standing position less painful.

Simple seat lifts come with two separate parts; a base and a seat. A spring in the middle provides gentle support as you stand, allowing the seat to meet you as you sit higher than the chair itself. Most attach to pre-existing chairs with ties or velcro, but some may install with hardware (e.g. screws and nails).

Pre-installed seat lift furniture offers more control and customization. This includes armchairs and couches with built-in seat risers that rely upon batteries or an electrical power source for hydraulic power.

Though furnishings with pre-installed risers come at a higher price point, the increase in support is well-worth the cost. If you have issues with grip or stability, it’s safer to use a full furniture piece than a portable seat lift. Full-scale furniture is also much better for patients with leg weakness or post-stroke paralysis.

3. Adjustable Beds

You spend eight hours sleeping in your bed every night. It’s no surprise that having the wrong mattress can impact back pain levels. A bad, ill-fitted, or poorly supported bed can induce back pain by causing lower back muscles, neck muscles, and the shoulders to fight to stabilize the spine as you sleep. The result is:

• Aching
• Muscle spasms
• Tight shoulders
• Tension headaches

Having a high-quality mattress that’s free from holes, dips, and bends is ideal, but it’s just the beginning. Adjustable beds are best for managing back pain because they offer on-the-fly position customization. Raising the head, lowering the feet, or creating a slight bend under the knees will encourage better spinal support, especially for patients with pre-existing curvatures or degeneration.

Many adjustable beds come with vibration/massage settings that provide similar benefits to light-tissue massage. Gentle vibration may encourage muscles to relax and relieve fascial pain for some patients, too.

4. Back Braces

Have a slight curvature? Suffering from one or more herniated discs? Spinal instability can cause the muscles surrounding the spine to fight one another, leading to spasms and deep, throbbing aches. Sometimes, the best response to instability isn’t surgery or even physio; it’s a simple back brace that provides your core with additional support.

Though most medical supply stores sell back braces to the public, it’s important to start with a diagnosis and recommendation from your doctor. Not every patient should use a brace, and overuse/incorrect use can exacerbate a back problem. Correct and accurate sizing lets you gain the most benefit from your brace.

If your doctor suggests a back brace, you have a wide berth of options to choose from. Some braces surround the lower back in canvas and stretchy elastic bands. Other more high-tech versions feature custom-fitted boning to help you retain your posture. Be sure to discuss which is best for you with your care team.

5. Inversion Tables

For people with compressed discs, those who stand on their feet for a significant amount of time, and anyone without a specific back problem who experiences occasional aching, inversion tables may provide temporary relief.

An inversion table is a small platform attached to a pivot point in the middle. Patients can strap themselves into the platform and gently tilt themselves into an angled, upside-down position. Gravity pressure on the spine and back muscles changes, relieving aching and pain.

There is at least some evidence to show that inversion tables may assist with the following:

• Slight subluxations
• Facet joint pain
• Herniated discs

Despite their usefulness, you shouldn’t use inversion tables or other forms of traction therapy as a means of managing back pain without a physician’s supervision. Patients with radiculopathies or extensive stenosis may worsen their pain and numbness, and could even further damage the joints to the point that weakness occurs.

6. Moist Heat Pads

Heat can provide significant relief for mild to moderate back aches and pains. Though you shouldn’t use heat in the first 48 hours after an injury, it’s a perfectly acceptable treatment for chronic or post-injury healing. Best of all, it’s accessible to almost everyone right at home.

When it comes to heat formats, magic bags and heat pads work well. But research shows that moist heat provides additional benefits, especially when it comes to managing back pain. That’s why many physiotherapists utilize moist heat pads in spinal pain treatment protocols.

That doesn’t mean you need to be in therapy in order to use moist heat; in fact, many of the same heating pads used by physiotherapists are available from your local pharmacy around the counter.

Researchers believe that moist heat is better than dry because it encourages muscle and tissue elasticity, both of which can relieve spasms and knots. Steam and hot, moist air both signal skin pores to relax and open, allowing heat to better penetrate the first few layers of skin. And heat itself triggers muscle relaxation, granting you three total benefits from one product.

Each moist heat pad brand functions a little bit differently. Generally, commercially-available versions come with three individual layers:

• Layer 1 – provides moisture
• Layer 2 – provides heat
• Layer 3 – provides a protective outer layer for your skin

Follow your chosen model’s individual instructions carefully at all times.

We Are Here to Help

The equipment for managing back pain listed above may be simple, but that doesn’t mean you should assume it’s a replacement for a physician or pharmacist’s advice. The most important step to take in treating your pain is to secure the correct diagnosis and recommendations in the first place. If you already have a diagnosis, speak with your local pharmacy or care team about whether these options may be right for you.