Does Fish Oil Make Your Back Ache?

When you begin to use fish oil as a supplement, you might experience back discomfort, states Gale Maleskey, a nutritional therapist, in her "Nature's Medicines: The Definitive Guide to Health Supplements." Medical researchers have yet to find the reason for this, but it is a common side effect. This discomfort will go away after you continue your use of fish oil in most cases, though it might take a couple of weeks. You also might be able to stop taking pain medication for your back.

Benefits of Fish Oil

Fish oil contains omega-3-acid ethyl esters, which reduce the inflammation of muscles and joints in your skeletal system. This decrease in inflammation will occur long-term unless you suffer some type of trauma to your bones and joints. Cartilage within the skeletal system becomes repaired more rapidly with fish oil use, Maleskey remarks. Fish oil contains amino acids, the building blocks of proteins that encourage regrowth of tissues within muscle and cartilage. The medical journal "Surgical Neurology" notes that a clinical study showed that once the initial side effect of pain in your back from fish oil subsides, the supplement actually might serve as a back pain reliever.

Back Care

Adding an exercise regime to your history of back pain and arthritis will help, the Arthritis Foundation states. You might want to begin a yoga class or use back-stretching exercise that strengthen your back. You will experience less pain when your back muscles become stronger, the Arthritis Foundation notes.

Pain Relief

Other than exercising and ingesting fish oil, your back pain might need over-the-counter treatment with non-narcotic pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Most people with arthritis use anti-inflammatory medications, says the Arthritis Foundation. You also can use warm and cool packs alternately at the site of pain to provide a natural analgesic treatment. An experienced arthritis specialist can help you choose the best medication for the type of arthritis you experience.

Posture

A big explanation for back pain is poor posture. By being aware of how you sit when using the computer or how you walk will make a difference in muscle strengthening. Keeping your chin up and shoulders back as you stand will help strengthen your back muscles. Posture plays a key role in keeping the spinal column as straight as possible. Using good posture will relieve unnecessary weight placed unevenly on areas of your back when using poor posture, the Arthritis Foundation reports.