Specific suggestions for lower back pain relief include alternating ice and heat, minimal bed rest, and exercise. Although most people recover within a few days, patients should contact their doctor if there is no noticeable difference after 72 hours of self-care. Other therapies for lower back pain relief may need to be tried, such as interventional therapy, spinal manipulation, or acupuncture.
In most cases, lower back pain can be treated without surgery. Lower back pain relief typically involves:
Using pain medicine
Reducing inflammation
Restoring proper function and strength to the back
Preventing recurrence of the injury.
Most patients with back pain recover without residual functional loss. However, patients should contact a doctor if there is no noticeable lower back pain relief after 72 hours of self-care.
Specific lower back pain relief suggestions include:
Ice and heat
Minimal bed rest
Exercise
Medications
Complementary and alternative methods
Surgery.
Lower Back Pain Relief Through Ice and Heat
Although ice and heat (the use of cold and hot compresses) have never been scientifically proven to quickly resolve lower back pain, compresses may help reduce pain and inflammation and allow greater mobility for some individuals. As soon as possible following trauma, patients should apply a cold pack or a cold compress (such as a bag of ice or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) to the tender spot several times a day for up to 20 minutes. After two to three days of cold treatment, people should then apply heat (such as a heating lamp or hot pad) for brief periods to relax muscles and increase blood flow. Warm baths may also help relax muscles. Patients should avoid sleeping on a heating pad, which can cause burns and lead to additional tissue damage.
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