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Back Supports to Help With Back Disc Pain

Bulging or herniated discs can place pressure on the spine and nerve roots, leading to pain and discomfort when walking, sitting and sleeping. If you are dealing with a disc problem, you should consider using one of the many types of supports available to help maintain better posture and reduce the strain placed on the spine from injury or poor alignment.

  1. Working or Sitting

    • Many times people develop poor posture habits while sitting at a desk or in a car for extended periods of time. The reason is that without proper lumbar support, your spine is forced to make adjustments to keep you upright. Over time, your muscles become fatigued and you begin to slouch and hunch, creating more pain on an already existing disc injury.

      According to SpineUniverse.com, using a work chair that has a lumbar support can alleviate some of this pain, especially if the injury is not too severe. If your chair does not have lumbar support, find a lumbar pillow or contour that can attach around the back of the chair. Tempur-Pedic, HealthyBack and McKenzie offer a wide range of lumbar supports.

      The Mayo Clinic also recommends a corset for some disc-injury sufferers. The corset wraps around your abdominal area to provide support, specifically in the lumbar area.

    Bed Support

    • According to Spine-Health.com, there are several types of back supports that can be used in bed. The first is a wedge that props you up at a slight incline. This reduces disc pain while reading or watching television in bed. While sleeping on your back, a pillow can be used under your knees to help maintain the proper contour of your spine. If you sleep on your side, a pillow between your knees will keep the proper alignment and reduce pain. A body pillow is another good option if you sleep on your side. It allows you to wrap your arms around the upper portion and your knees to straddle the pillow.

    Working Out

    • In the case of exercise or physical lifting, try weight belts that wrap around your waist at the lumbar region. These should be worn tightly to help you keep your posture erect while doing exercises such as clean pulls or jerks. These belts are also used in jobs where there is frequent lifting.

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