What treatment do I need?

What treatment do I need?

Treatment for acute low back pain

Acute low back is symptoms that has lasted less than 3 months. If your low back pain has just recently started these tips can help:

Immediately after you back pain starts for the first day or two, try to rest in a comfortable position. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees, on your back with 2-3 pillows under your knees maybe the most comfortable you can get. Try no to stay in one position for too long. Get up every 2 or 3 hours and move in a pain free way, either a short walk or gentle stretches while standing. Try to stay up and moving around for 15-30 minutes. Then resume a comfortable resting position.

Certain over the counter medications can help control your pain and reduce some symptoms associated with an inflammatory response. Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (such as Aleve) to address pain, swelling and irritation or take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control pain. Follow the directions on the bottle for dosage amount.

Heat and Ice can help to control symptoms as well. Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting, a warm shower, hot bath or sitting in a hot tub for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Or try using an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. You may also want to try switching between heat and cold.

Resume normal activities as soon as you can. Staying sedentary for longer than 1-2 days can actually cause more back pain and problems. Movement helps your muscles stay strong.

If you have low back pain for more than 3-5 days, call your doctor and get into Physical Therapy to address remaining symptoms and strengthen your low back. Once you have back pain you are more likely to have a reoccurrence of low back pain. Getting the proper strengthening and stretching exercises quickly can help reduce that risk.

Treatment for chronic low back pain

Chronic low back pain is symptoms that has lasted longer than 3 months. As low back pain continues beyond 3 months, it becomes very important that you get the help you need to resolve your injury. Going to see you doctor and getting the diagnostics done that may help to explain continued low back pain Furthermore it is important to undergo Physical Therapy treatment to address symptoms, strength deficits, spine joint restrictions and general movement pattern disruptions. With the proper lumbar stabilization regiment you can improve your low back pain and restore function without more invasive measures.


Other therapies to consider in addition to tradition Physical Therapy:

Acupuncture: When you have pressure on the nerves, acupuncture can help relive that pressure and help to reduce pain. When the acupuncture needles are put in certain places in the body, you will relieve the pressure on a nerve. By relieving that pressure on a nerve, the muscles begin to relax, the blood begins to flow into an area, and pain is reduced. Also accupuncture releases endorphins which also adds in pain reduction.

Massage Therapy: Massage improves blood circulation, which aids in recovery of muscle soreness from physical activity. Massage relaxes muscles for an improved range of motion. Massage leads to increased endorphin levels. Endorphins are the chemicals the body produces that make you feel good, which is very effective in managing chronic pain.

Aquatic Therapy: Water exercise also known as aquatic therapy takes advantage of the unique properties of water to mobilize joints, increase range of motion and to develop balance and stability. If a back injury has short circuited your regular workout routine, a water exercise program might be a good alternative during the healing period. In addition, water offers an excellent core strengthener to help prevent back pain.