Back pain is a common ailment that ranges from mild to serious. It can occur in your lower back, upper back or anywhere along your spine. Common causes of back pain include improper lifting, strained muscles, bulging disks, sciatica and arthritis. Spinal infections and tumors can also cause back pain in rare cases. Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways to treat this condition.
Mild back pain resulting from minor injuries or strains can usually be
treated at home. Ice packs and over-the-counter nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can provide pain relief and
reduce inflammation. Heating pads can help relieve sore muscles. Avoid
doing strenuous activities since this can make your condition worse.
Resting for a couple of days is alright, but you should avoid prolonged
periods of rest after this point since this can slow your recovery. It’s
important to call your doctor if you have severe back pain or pain that
lasts longer than three days.
You might need physical therapy to help you recover from a severe back
injury or to help you cope with chronic back pain. Physical therapists
use several types of treatment methods, such as ice, heat and electrical
stimulation, to relieve pain. They also help patients strengthen their
back muscles and become more flexible once the pain subsides. These
exercises help patients recover and lower the risk of having back pain
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, usually help
back pain that is mild to moderate. You might need prescription muscle
relaxants to relieve back pain if over-the-counter medications don’t
work. Your doctor might prescribe codeine or another narcotic to provide
short-term relief for severe back pain. If you’re dealing with chronic
back pain, antidepressants like amitriptyline might help. Your doctor
might try cortisone injections if other forms of medication haven’t been
effective. Cortisone reduces inflammation, although this relief
typically only lasts for a few months.
Spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustment, is usually
used for lower back pain. It’s done by making a joint move farther than
usual but not to an unnatural degree. Although chiropractors typically
perform spinal manipulation, physical therapists and osteopathic doctors
with the right training can also use this form of treatment.
Chiropractic care might also include massage, stretching and electrical
stimulation to help relieve back pain.
Most cases of back pain don’t require surgery. Your doctor might
recommend it if other treatment methods don’t work or if the pain
spreads down your leg or is associated with muscle weakness. Surgery
might involve joining or fusing two vertebrae, removing part of a spinal
disk or removing part of a vertebra. Fusion helps reduce pain, but it
can also lead to a higher risk of arthritis in your vertebrae. Partial
disk removal relieves pain by getting rid of the disk portion that is
putting pressure on a nerve. Partial vertebra removal gets rid of bony
growths that press on your nerves or spinal cord.