Lower back pain is one of the commonly shared human xperiences of pain; most people at some point in their adult life will experience lower back pain. It is a reality of upright human life. Lower back pain has many different causes, and there are several different ways to reduce the pain associated with it and correct some of the problems that commonly underlie the pain.

There are some common tenants for Low back pain treatment, which are useful in most (but not all cases).

First, it is important to try to remain as active as possible. This does not mean playing football or running a marathon, and just sucking up the pain. It means keeping to a form of light exercise that supports your need to maintain strong muscles as you work on bringing your body back to a pain free state. This treatment course can be hard for people with lower back pain to swallow, because the pain they experience leaves them not feeling like doing exercise. Low back pain exercises, however, are vitally important; exercise for low back pain is often the key to recovery.

However, the problems created by allowing muscles to weaken through inactivity will only serve to lengthen the recovery period. And creating strong muscles is central to returning your body to a state it enjoyed before the onset of the pain.

Second, many forms of lower back pain (though not all) have a common underlying cause, which is that the spine has gotten out of alignment over time, either because of weakened muscles, poor posture or injury. Bringing your body back to proper alignment should be a cornerstone of the treatment plan for people who suffer from lower back pain, because if only the proximate cause is dealt with, it will likely return again and again.

Third, pain can be made more manageable in most (but not all) cases by over the counter pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.

Fourth, there is an important component in the treatment of lower back pain that involves education. Research shows that those who have a better understanding of their condition tend to improve faster and better. Having a sense of understanding increases our sense of control, and with a sense of control, we are better motivated to work to resolve the issue. So, work with your health care professionals to educated yourself about the causes of your pain.

Fifth, surgery in most (but not all) cases of lower back pain is not warranted. The success of surgery for lower back pain has not been great, and the risks associated with the procedures as well as their impact on your ability to recover, make them not particularly suitable as a solution to lower back pain. Even problems like herniated discs are not resolved well with surgery.

Acute Pain Treatments

Low back pain treatment is typically referred as that pain which is significant, but which last less than about three months. In many cases, the treatment plan is as follows. Rest for the first day or so, and try lying on your side if that brings relief. A pillow between the knees or under the knees if you lie on your back should help your comfort left. Though rest is important in this time, it is also important to move around, so brief walks of 15-20 minutes should be taken every two to three hours. Take pain medication as needed, and apply a heating pad for 15-20 minutes at a time every two to three hours; this can be alternated with ice packs.

After the first couple of days, work to get back to normal activities. Exercise for low back pain can include walking and exercises that increase your core stabilizing muscles, generally those in your stomach muscles. However, before engaging in these types of exercises, it is important to consult your health care practitioner.

Chronic Low back pain treatment

Chronic low back pain lasts more than three months. At this point, developing ways to work with and manage your pain will become very important and there are a variety of options that work, including physical therapy and psychological counseling. Many people use acupuncture to deal with chronic pain as well. You should also continue strengthening exercises to increase core stability. Take pain medications when necessary. Some people also take numbing or steroid injections to deal with pain and inflammation.

There other treatment options, the effectiveness of which is debated. These include axial decompression, radio frequency ablation for facet joint pain, Botox and prolotherapy. Spinal traction, in recent years, has found to be ineffective in dealing with most causes of Chronic low back pain .

In serious, ongoing cases of pain, pain killer prescriptions may be written, but it is important to understand and following the guidance around the long-term use of these medications. Some are addictive, and others have additional side effects that should be taken into consideration.

In cases of chronic pain, you should consult and work with a medical professional specializing in this field.

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