What are treatments for low back pain?

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In 95 percent of cases, low back pain will get better over time using simple treatments (often referred to as “conservative treatments”). If your doctor does not find any “red flags,” he or she may recommend these steps first.

• For the first few days or weeks of low back pain, stay involved in regular activities including work, family and recreation. Try to return to all your regular activities as soon as possible and not to let the pain limit what you do.

• Bed rest doesn’t help low back pain and can even make it worse because the back needs to be in motion for the discs to stay lubricated and heal. Lack of movement in the back delays healing, can make the pain last longer, and may weaken surrounding muscles, making it more difficult to return to regular activities.

• Moderate exercise promotes healing. It can reduce low back pain once you get over the initial resistance to movement your body might feel. The type of exercise you do in the first weeks of back pain isn’t important, as long as you are active. Walking for 10-20 minutes a day is an excellent choice. Many people find it helpful to exercise in a pool because the water provides support as they move.

• In addition to resuming your activities and getting regular exercise, you may find it helpful to apply heat to the low back with a disposable or reusable hot pack or to apply cold from an ice pack. Either one is fine, as long as you don’t apply it directly to your skin.

• Taking over-the-counter medication may also temporarily reduce pain and let you continue your regular activities. The first choice to relieve low back pain is acetaminophen. (Tylenol is one of the brand names.) If you can’t take acetaminophen or if you find that it doesn’t help, the second choice may be ibuprofen or naproxen. (Brand names for ibuprofen are Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin. Brand names for naproxen are Aleve and Naprosyn.) Talk to your pharmacist if you need help choosing the right over-the-counter medication for your low back pain.

 
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