My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Caregivers
Being a caregiver is a very special role with its own health challenges for the person providing care. We offer tips and strategies so that you can do this important job while protecting your health and well being.
Self Care for Caregivers
As a caregiver, you must maintain your own health and well-being. When you are focused on the needs of someone else, it can be easy to neglect your own. But your health is important not only to you, but also to those you care for (as well as to others who love you), because without stamina, energy, and clarity of mind, you cannot provide the best care for another person.
Eating the right food in the right amounts is fundamental to your health. It is also a joy to eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and lean meats. You do not have to deny yourself pleasure, you do not have to eat foods you dislike, and you do not even need to skip snacks when you crave them. But it is important to be thoughtful about how you eat, to know what foods are good for you, and to plan the types of foods you will buy and eat regularly.
It is also necessary to establish an exercise habit. Exercising is one of the best things you can do for your health. Regular exercise can give you more energy, help you sleep better, improve your mood, boost your memory and concentration, and reduce your risk of developing chronic health conditions. There are many ways to exercise, and the key is to find the one or ones you most enjoy. Starting slow is okay, particularly if you have not exercised in a long time. In a short time, you may find that exercising is one of your greatest pleasures.
Maintaining a healthy weight and refraining from smoking are also foundations of a healthy lifestyle.
If you eat well, exercise every day, maintain a healthy weight, and do not smoke, you will feel good, have fewer health problems, and be a far more effective caregiver for your loved one and yourself.
Please inform your doctor during your regular checkup if you are a caregiver for your loved one. Seek help if you develop new symptoms of pain in your back or limbs.
Related Health Tools:
Interactive Programs
- Quit Tobacco Medications Quit Tobacco Medications
Podcasts
- Exercise Lite Exercise Lite
- Exercise Smart Exercise Smart
- Stress Management Stress Management
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.