5 Tips for Supporting a Spouse With Spine Pain

Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

Senior Back Pain

Nobody wants to see their spouse in pain, so if your spouse is dealing with acute or chronic back pain, you probably want to do everything in your power to help alleviate their discomfort. And if you made it to this page, there’s a chance you’re looking for some advice on how to best support a spouse who is dealing with back pain. As you might imagine, there is no perfect playbook for helping a loved one overcome spine pain because everyone is different. Not only is pain highly individualized, but everyone responds differently to encouragement or suggestions. Some people would be very open to seeing a doctor if their spouse recommended it, while others would be a little less receptive to the idea.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled some helpful tips for supporting your spouse if they are dealing with back pain. Not all of these tips might work, but odds are some of the techniques will help provide that much needed support.

Helping Your Spouse Through Back Pain

Here’s a look at some ways to support your spouse if they are dealing with back pain. All of these tips attempt to make them healthier in a broader sense, which typically helps with back pain, so feel free to make your own list as long as your intentions are rooted in helping them become healthier overall. Here are some examples.

  1. Encourage That They See A Professional – While this is typically one of if not the most successful way of alleviating back pain, your partner may not be overly receptive to the idea. When broaching the subject, feel free to touch on how their pain is impacting you. Sometimes back pain sufferers think that if they grit their teeth and bear the discomfort, they are fine, but they may not notice how their back pain is impacting others. If your quality of life is suffering because of their back pain issue, let them know, because that may make them more receptive to getting professional assistance.
  2. Directly Or Indirectly Encourage Movement And Exercise – Exercise and movement are great for your spine and your whole body, so try to encourage movement. We understand that exercise and activity may not be high on their list of things they want to do if they are dealing with spinal discomfort, but at the same time, movement should help make their spine stronger and alleviate pain. Exercise also releases endorphins in the brain that act as natural pain relievers. Offer to go for a daily walk around the neighborhood or do a 15-minute exercise program with them so that they don’t have to do the activity alone.
  3. Healthy Meals – Healthy meals may not directly shift a herniated disc back into the right position, but healthy food choices can really help to reduce spine pain in other ways. For starters, lean proteins and a range of vitamins and minerals will ensure your body and your spine have the nutrients it needs to thrive. Foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar can also trigger an inflammatory response that can make back pain worse, so you can avoid this inflammation by choosing healthy foods. And finally, consistently eating healthy foods can help you lose weight, which will take stress off your spine. Provide healthy meals for you and your spouse so that their diet helps curb spine pain instead of making it worse.
  4. Hydration – You’ll also want to help keep your spouse hydrated so that healthy blood can flow to critical structures more easily. Encourage them to drink plenty of water and challenge them to drink a certain number of glasses a day. Steer them towards water instead of options like caffeine or alcohol that can be disruptive to spine pain management.
  5. Talk And Listen – Finally, one helpful piece of advice that we have is to talk to your spouse and to really listen to what they have to say. Some spouses will want to talk about anything other than their spine pain to take their mind off their discomfort, while others will find peace by venting about their frustrations or brainstorming ways to overcome their pain. Again, you know your spouse best, so figure out the best way to communicate with them about their back pain so that they are better off for it. This is easier said than done, but communication and listening is key for supporting a spouse with back pain.

And if you’ve convinced them to set up an appointment with a specialist, we hope you’ll consider Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute for your care. For more information, or to talk with a member from our team, give us a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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