Treatment and Prevention
The treatment of low back pain depends on its cause.
For low back pain involving muscle and nerves, treatment can include pain medications such as acetaminophen*, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs; e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), or opioids (e.g., codeine, oxycodone) when pain is severe. Muscle relaxants may also be used, but their benefit in low back pain is not clear. Heat and cold (for the first few days after an injury) treatments and certain exercises as directed by a health care professional may also be used to help relieve pain. In some cases, chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy can help with low back pain.
Bed rest is usually not recommended, but if it is needed, it should not be longer than 1 or 2 days. Avoid heavy lifting after an injury, but continue light activities. As well as losing weight, most people are advised to improve their posture or lift weights to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the lower back. Strength training is a normal part of recovering from any muscle or ligament injury. Before starting an exercise program, discuss the activity first with your doctor and learn how to do the exercises properly.
Occasionally, slipped discs require surgery to decompress them. This may include deliberately fusing two vertebrae together. The operation shouldn't restrict back movement in any noticeable way.
Some back pain recurs over and over. Even the most thorough investigations may not find signs of injury or disease in some people. Speak to your doctor about exercises, physiotherapy, massage, or other therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, or manual physiotherapy.
You can help prevent low back pain by strengthening the muscles that support the back. Good posture while sitting or standing can also help prevent back pain. Proper lifting can also help prevent back injury: always keep the knees bent, do not twist the back, and use the legs to lift.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.