Table of Content
You can find a wide range of over-the-counter painkiller choices, like Advil and Tylenol. Always follow the dosage instructions exactly, not going over the recommendation. If you find yourself taking pain medication frequently, talk to your doctor as there may be long-term side effects. If you can’t afford to get a professional massage, ask your friend or partner to give you a gentle massage.
Devices implanted under the skin can deliver electrical impulses to certain nerves to block pain signals. Some types of antidepressants — particularly duloxetine and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve chronic back pain. These products, including creams, salves, ointments and patches, deliver pain-relieving substances through the skin. Brain tumor, breast cancer, colon cancer, congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmia.
Keep Good Posture
Record your symptoms, times, dates and which activities trigger the pain or make it worse or better. Take this information to your family physician if the pain doesnt resolve on its own. My sister has been suffering from back pain for months now without going to the doctor and I wanted to see what her options her were. This was really helpful since you mention getting a proper diagnosis first with an x-ray or SPECT. I will have to tell my sister that the first step is knowing what exactly is wrong so she can get the best treatment available.
Another cause of low back pain, although it occurs less often, is a herniated disc. Sometimes, a disc pushes outside the space between the bones and compresses a nerve at the point where it branches off the spinal cord. When the sciatic nerve that leads into the buttocks and leg is affected, the pain is called sciatica.
The Latest in Back Pain
Lying flat on your back with the soft pillow supporting the back area is the ideal sleeping position in case of back pains. Applying an ointment to the pain area quickly removes the back pain. Though being the fastest home remedy for back pain, this relief is temporary. Back pain is one of the most common problems you deal with as you age.
HexaHealth Care Team brings you medical content covering many important conditions, procedures falling under different medical specialities. The content published is thoroughly reviewed by our panel of qualified doctors for its accuracy and relevance. Repeated lifting of a heavy object, improper posture, and tension in the muscles of the ligament of the back area are some of the common causes of back pain.
Try Ice and Heat
It is best to ask for help or use trolleys when moving very heavy objects. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States, a proper workstation may help reduce back pain and other injuries. Soft tissue manipulation encourages mental and physical relaxation through the release of endorphins. A variety of pain-relief creams that can provide some relief from back pain are available in pharmacies and online. Note- Avoid doing stretching exercises, if the back pain is caused due to spasms. It strengthens the bones and minimizes the risk of osteoporosis and lower back pain.
“Exercise is always a good baseline treatment to do at home,” says Jung. However, exercising when your back is in spasm can be counterproductive. Instead, wait for spasms to subside, then slowly start stretching your muscles. Without any of those symptoms or history, here are some options for easing your back pain on your own, without the intervention of a doctor.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are anti-inflammatory medicines, which alleviate low back pain caused by a swollen nerves or muscles. Acetaminophen works by interfering with pain signals sent to the brain. Many treatment options for low back pain can be tailored to an individual patient’s needs. Treatments include care administered at home, medicinal remedies, alternative care, or even surgery. Egoscue, another type of postural therapy protocol that focuses on fixing musculoskeletal misalignments, may also be able to help reduce and prevent back pain. Lower back pain can be mild to very severe depending on its underlying causes, how long it’s been left untreated and the state of someone’s overall health.
Corticosteroids may be injected intramuscularly, taken orally, or injected under fluoroscopy (as epidural steroid injection-ESI). Once the swelling of the nerve decreases, you’ll usually find some relief. Antidepressants, narcotics such as codeine, and anticonvulsant drugs may be used to treat lower back pain. Longer periods of inactivity can actually cause your muscles to weaken. Topical creams and gels that contain ingredients like capsaicin, salicylate, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol also may be soothing for pain. These include products such as Aspercreme, Bengay, Icy Hot, and Zostrix.
Though all the home remedies for back pain relief cited here are beneficial, it's not necessary that it would treat the pain at once and there would be no complications later on. It's important to not ignore the symptoms that last longer and do not disappear even after numerous attempts or remedies. Rather, the persistent symptoms should be deemed as warnings to consult the medical practitioner at the soonest.
Supportive footwear is a good way to provide better alignment and support for your spine, especially if you do a lot of walking or standing for long periods of time at work. If your pain is a result of an injury, applying a cold pack will help reduce swelling and numb the area, resulting in a reduction of back pain. Keep in mind that this is a temporary treatment, so always seek medical treatment after experiencing trauma.
The warmth soothes and relaxes aching muscles and increases blood flow, which helps the healing process. Keep in mind that heat therapy is only helpful for the first week. Some medications for back pains have even been tied to complications, such as liver damage or intestinal bleeding, when taken for long periods of time or in high doses.
