A wide range of lower back pain treatments are available depending on the cause of the pain, its severity and for how long it will last. Pain from the lower back or whatever pain you have is really subjective. It varies from one person to another. Which is why, when seeking for treatment, the doctor would ask the rate of pain from 1(as the lowest) to 10 (as the highest), or they will ask for how long the pain is felt, or what triggers the pain. Answers from these inquiries can help the doctor decide what's the best treatment for their patient.
Back pain in general is a pain in the back that is usually caused from heavy lifting, twisting, and improper posture. Low back pain is the most common complaint when one ages, or when one is immobile and has driving for long hours. Since low back pain cannot cause a life threatening condition, it is still consider a health problem for most people. However, in today's age, there has been a decrease of back injuries over the workplace because of the increase awareness of this problem, which this article also want to relay from the people.
There are a lot of preventive measures that have been known by many, and there are improved treatments for low back pain, ranges from a self care at home, medications and medical management.
Adopting simple but helpful changes to your lifestyle and submitting yourself for treatment can bring about immediate improvements in your low back pain.
1) Self-Care at Home - an initial lower back pain treatments.
- Sleeping
- Those with low back pain should sleep with a pillow between the knees while lying on one side.
They can also lie flat on bed with pillows under knees.
This increases comfort to your back and prevent further damage.
*Don't stay bed rest for more than 2 days; it will worsen your condition.
- Low back pain exercises
- These include Pelvic tilt, Back twist, Hamstring stretch, knee to chest, shoulder shrug, etc. are also helpful to strengthen muscles and promotes movement and joint flexibility; it also helps relieve pain.
Walking is also a part of exercise that should be done slowly and carefully. This is considered as the best exercise for lower back.
Exercise can be of help to people return to their normal activities.
- Over the counter drugs (Non prescription drugs)
- Anti-Pain
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). This is indicated for a short-treatment of low back pain. There can be an increase risk of gastric ulcer or gastric bleeding when use for a long time. This is usually taken after a meal. It's better to consult to your doctor when you are to take these.
Hot/cold therapy
- You can use it alternately and should not exceed for more than 15 minutes.
- Hot therapy with the use of heating pad can help in decreasing inflammation, if there's any.
- Cold therapy with the use of ice pack can help decrease back pain as the cold have an anesthetic effect.
Avoid prolonged bed rest
- This lengthens the recovery period of the back, as it can likely develop depression.
- Bed rest weakens muscle tone.
2) Medical Treatment - when pain is chronic, it is best to consult with your doctor for proper treatment.
- Prescription drugs
- Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- These drugs are the foundation of medical treatment for the relief of back pain.
- COX-2 inhibitors (Celecoxib). As these are an effective pain reliever, it is also widely used as it prevents gastrointestinal bleeding.
Steroids
- Oral. These can be best benefited with those who have acute low back pain.
- Injectables. This can have an increase relief of pain since the absorption is faster than oral. However, it should be given with caution and should be done by a professional.
3) Other treatments
- Acupuncture
- It helps decrease pain and increases activity.
Session should be ideally done three times a week for a start and will increase gradually.
- Massage Therapy
- This lessen muscle spasm
- Spine adjustment (manipulation)
- This is done by an osteopath, chiropractor, psychiatrist, or a physical therapy spine specialist.
After one session, the patient may experience free of pain, and may not need for a second visit. However, the doctor must advise you if there's no need for a second session.
Lower back pain treatments are indeed wide in scope. It caters all kinds of low back pain with different approaches. As such, there's no reason not to be relieved with the pain. The success of treatment do not depend on the doctor and the offered treatment options, but it is depending more with you, as the patient on how religious you are in taking the medications, on visiting the doctor for a therapy or acupuncture session. Are you just good at start and when pain subsides, you no longer continue the given treatment? If that's the case, treatment can be deemed ineffective as the pain will reoccur when you suddenly stop. So, don't blame the treatment when pain goes back, blame yourself. Treatments are being laid down to you and all you can do is to follow it. Remember, Health is all about you. Take care of it.
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