Back Pain Channel
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Treatment for Back Pain
Healthcare providers typically only recommend treatment for back pain if it has been occurring for at least three months. This is called chronic pain. If the back pain is acute and has been brought on by a fall or some other sudden action, it will usually get better on its own in about six weeks or less, although acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help.
The type of back pain treatment your healthcare provider suggests will depend on several things, including how long the condition has persisted and what you have tried so far. Options include:
- Hot or cold packs
- Exercise
- Medications
- Devices
- Behavioral modification
- Injections
- Complementary and alternative therapy.
If these methods fail to relive pain, then surgery will be considered.
(Click Back Pain Treatment for a detailed discussion of these different options, including the pros and cons and what the research says.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD