Common Treatments for Back Pain

Back pain strikes 1 in 10 Americans at some point in their lives. Back pain can make everyday tasks like standing, sitting and bending over impossible. There is no single cause of back pain. This condition can be the result of everyday wear and tear on your spine and age-related conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Thankfully the combination of medications and natural treatments can help you kick your back pain to the curb.

Relieve Back Pain With Pain Medication

Over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin are the most widely used drugs to treat back pain. If taken by healthy individuals, these pain relievers usually don’t cause problems. However, over the counter medicines that are misused can cause stomach bleeding, ulcers and liver damage. These medicines can also have adverse side effects when mixed with other medications. So if you are taking prescription drugs to manage other health conditions, talk to a doctor before taking over the counter pain relievers.

If back pain is so severe that over the counter meds don’t do the trick, a doctor can prescribe stronger pain medications to manage back pain. Take care when using prescription pain pills. If they are misused, they can be highly addictive. 

Massage Therapy to Treat Back Pain 

Massage relieves stress and loosens tight muscles that contribute to back pain. Massage also improves circulation and releases natural pain relievers in the body. There are several types of massage techniques therapists use to treat back pain. The most common is a Swedish massage. During a Swedish massage the client lies unclothed on a table while a masseuse uses their hands to apply gentle pressure to the back and other areas of the body.

Acupuncture to Treat Back Pain

Acupuncture is an age-old Chinese medicine that promotes healing from all types of ailments, including back pain. During acupuncture, thin, sterile needles are inserted along pathways of the body to unblock energy channels, improve circulation and help the body release natural pain-relieving hormones.

Heat and Ice Packs to Treat Pain in the Back

Applying ice packs to a back injury helps reduce inflammation and dull the pain. Heat eases back spasms, improves blood flow and loosens tense muscles. Applying Heat immediately after a back injury will worsen inflammation, so wait at least 48-hours after the initial injury before you apply heat.

Back pain makes simple tasks cumbersome. But with a combination of pain medications and natural methods like massage therapy, acupuncture, heat packs and cold compresses, back pain can be effectively treated so it doesn’t put a damper on your life.