How do you treat lower back pain?
How do you treat lower back pain?
This is something I do to relieve my back pain, I apply a pain relief ointment and then I use a hot water bag and keep it under my back before I sleep. It has helped lessen my back pain considerably.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Chronic Back Pain
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Physical Therapy
Exercise is the foundation of chronic back pain treatment. It’s one of the first treatments you should try under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist. However, the same set of exercises doesn’t work for everyone, says Nava. The exercises have to be tailored to your specific symptoms and condition. Maintaining the exercise routine at home is also a big part of success.
Physical therapy for chronic back pain may include:
- Retraining your posture
- Testing the limits of pain tolerance
- Stretching and flexibility exercises
- Aerobic exercises
- Core strengthening
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Mindfulness and Meditation
Chronic back pain is straining both physically and emotionally. To manage the frustration, irritability, depression and other psychological aspects of dealing with chronic pain, you may get referred to a rehabilitation psychologist. This specialist may recommend meditation, yoga, tai chi and other cognitive and relaxation strategies to keep your mind from focusing on pain
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Diet
Some diets are highly inflammatory, especially those high in trans fats, refined sugars and processed foods. Consult with your doctor to see if your diet could be contributing to your chronic back pain and how you could change it. Maintaining a healthy weight could also help lessen your back pain by reducing the pressure on your spine.
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Lifestyle Modifications
When you have chronic pain, it’s important to accept your limitations and adapt. “Listen to your body and learn to pace yourself,” suggests Nava. Take a break when mowing the lawn, or make several trips when carrying groceries. Take note of the activities that worsen your pain and avoid them if possible. Not only could this help your back feel better, it could also prevent the underlying condition from advancing. Another important lifestyle change to try is giving up smoking. Nicotine is scientifically known to accentuate pain and delay healing.
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Injection-based Treatments
Nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, nerve ablations and other types of injection-based procedures are available for chronic back pain. They are used when the source of the pain is known and can sometimes help rule out certain causes if the treatment doesn’t work. Injections may stop or lessen pain for a certain period of time, but are not intended as long-term solutions and shouldn’t be used in isolation.
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Alternative Treatments
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.
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Pharmacologic Treatments
Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and other medications can be used to help control chronic back pain. However, most come with unwanted side effects and are not intended for prolonged use.
“Opioid medications generally shouldn’t be used as the first, the only or the long-term line of treatment for chronic back pain,” recommends Nava. Many of them are addictive and don’t address the underlying cause of your pain. Opioids should be prescribed only after a thorough exam by a specialist and if other drugs have failed to provide relief. If you find yourself relying on opioids to get through the day, it may be time to seek a second opinion.
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Rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medications are usually effective for lower back pain. You can gradually resume your normal activities after a few days of relaxation. Staying active helps you heal by increasing blood flow to the area. Other lower back pain remedies are dependent on the underlying problem. They include the following:
1. Medications
2. Physical therapy is a type of treatment that is used (PT)
3. Manipulation with your hands
4. Injections
5. Surgery
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and perform a physical examination. Your doctor may prescribe imaging tests to look for broken bones or other injuries. Your provider will be able to examine clear images of your vertebrae, discs, muscles, ligaments, and tendons thanks to these examinations.
Your provider may order:
- X-ray of the spine, which uses radiation to create images of the bones.
- MRI, which creates images of bones, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues using a magnet and radio waves.
- CT scan, which creates 3D images of bones and soft tissues using X-rays and a computer.
- Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks nerves and muscles for neuropathy (nerve damage), which can cause tingling or numbness in the legs.
Your doctor may also request blood tests or urine tests, depending on the reason of your pain. Some back pain problems have genetic markers that can be detected through blood tests (such as ankylosing spondylitis). Kidney stones, which cause flank pain, are checked for using urine testing (the sides of the low back).
Walking around and stretching will help to relieve any tension that has built up in your body. If the discomfort continues, it is best to consult with a doctor or physical therapist to find out what might be causing back pain.
