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6 Surprising Reasons You're in Pain

Pain Triggers.

Some days you find yourself in acute pain while reaching for some stuff or even bending down to pick up something from the floor.

A small trigger cause an unimaginable amount of stress or pain at a particular point. You get shooting pains up and down in one leg only while sitting and you can't seem to shake it off. You're driving one day and you feel a lot of pain in the neck just because you have your seat at an unusual angle. Sometimes there are a combination of factors that will lead to these kinds of pain not just one trigger happening somewhere in isolation.

6 Reasons You're Experiencing Pain

1. Couch Potato Syndrome

Think down time is resting?

Even lying on the couch can be a source of aches and pains. Do you often lie across the couch with your head turned toward the television? You're setting yourself in a position that would eventually lead to sore neck -- and that could be even worse if you happen to fall asleep in that position.

Solution: Maintain good posture even when you're relaxing. Sit up straight on your couch and make sure your TV is not positioned too high.

2. Sleep Habits

If you wake up sore most mornings, take a good look at your sleep posture. Stomach sleepers may twist their necks to the point of hyper-extension. Other people sleep on their sides with one arm overhead. After many hours, this position can strain the shoulder.

Solution: Better ways to sleep are on your back or on your side with your arms below shoulder level. Side sleepers can place a pillow between the knees to support the lower back. Back sleepers can put a pillow under the neck and beneath their knees.

3. Lifting With the Back

A top source of back pain is lifting objects the wrong way. A common mistake is curving the back forward to grab an object, then straightening the back as you lift. This forces your back muscles to take the brunt of the burden. Twisting while you lift is another problem.

Solution: To lift properly, bend the knees and hips until you are squatting. Keep the back upright. Grab the object and lift with your leg muscles by straightening your knees and hips.

4. Your Workstation

If you spend many hours a day at your desk or workstation, give some thought to the setup. A poorly positioned chair can cause you to slouch forward, straining the back and neck. A monitor that's too low or too high will also strain the neck.

Solution: Place your monitor with the top of the screen at eye level. Position your chair so that you are sitting straight with your feet on the floor. Use a cushion to support the lower back if needed.

5. Grinding Your Teeth

A sore jaw combined with a dull headache could mean you're grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep. If you're a chronic grinder, pain isn't the only concern. You could end up damaging your teeth, your jaw, and even your hearing.

Solution: See your dentist. He or she can provide a mouth guard that will protect your teeth during sleep.

6. Your Hairdo

A tight ponytail may trigger -- or worsen -- a headache. Some migraine sufferers are more sensitive to sensations that wouldn't bother others, such as a tight hat, headband, bun, or braids.

Solution: Wear your hair down and skip the hat.