Alternative treatments for lower

back pain

Some alternative therapies for lower back pain include:

● Massage. General relaxation massages and structural massage

targeted to areas that might be causing your back pain might help.
● Acupuncture. Acupuncture needles may reduce inflammation and
alter the way nerves react to alleviate lower back pain.

Medical treatment for lower back

pain

If at-home remedies and lifestyle changes don’t improve your lower back
pain, your doctor can prescribe medication to help you manage it. Some of
the medications your doctor might prescribe include:
 ● muscle relaxants to relieve spasms
● topicals to be used directly on the area in pain
● cortisone injections to reduce inflammation

Your doctor might also suggest physical therapy. A physical therapist can
teach you specific exercises and stretches to strengthen your back and find
pain relief. They might also use other techniques as well, such as:

● joint mobilization
● posture education
● modalities like electrical stimulation and ultrasound

When to see your doctor

Back pain commonly goes away on its own, but sometimes medical help is
needed. Call your doctor if your pain lasts longer than a few days and is
accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

● deep constant pain

● incontinence
 ● prolonged morning stiffness
● weak legs
● pain that’s unaffected by activity or position
● rigid spine
● numb groin
● fever or chills

If the pain is a result of physical trauma, such as a car accident, visit your
doctor.

Takeaway

If you have occasional back pain when you stand, it’s likely due to postural
stress. Chances are it’ll go away in a few days, either on its own or with
home remedies.

If the pain continues, gets worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms,

it’s time for you to see your doctor.

Last medically reviewed on July 30, 2018

5 sources

collapsed

FEEDBACK:
 Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT, Physical Therapy — By Scott
Frothingham — Updated on March 7, 2019

Was this article helpful?

YesNo

What You Should Know

About Low Back Pain

● Causes

● Diagnosis

● Treatment

● Prevention

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we
may earn a small commission.Here’s our process.
Overview

Lower back pain is a common cause for visits to the doctor.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

(NINDS)

Trusted Source

, low back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability. At least
80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain in their lifetime.

Most low back pain is the result of an injury, such as muscle sprains or
strains due to sudden movements or poor body mechanics while lifting
heavy objects.

Low back pain can also be the result of certain diseases, such as:
 ● cancer of the spinal cord
● a ruptured or herniated disc
● sciatica
● arthritis
● kidney infections
● infections of the spine

Acute back pain can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, while
chronic back pain is pain that lasts longer than three months.

Low back pain is more likely to occur in individuals between the ages of 30
and 50. This is partly due to the changes that occur in the body with aging.
As you grow older, there’s a reduction in the fluid content between the
vertebrae in the spine.

This means discs in the spine experience irritation more easily. You also
lose some muscle tone, which makes the back more prone to injury. This is
why strengthening your back muscles and using good body mechanics are
helpful in preventing low back pain.
What are the causes of low back
pain?

Strains

The muscles and ligaments in the back can stretch or tear due to excess
activity. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the lower back, as well as
muscle spasms. Rest and physical therapy are remedies for these
symptoms.

Disc injury

The discs in the back are prone to injury. This risk increases with age. The
outside of the disc can tear or herniate.

A herniated disc, which is also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs

when the cartilage surrounding the disc pushes against the spinal cord or
nerve roots. The cushion that sits between the spinal vertebrae extends
outside its normal position.
This can result in compression of the nerve root as it exits from the spinal
cord and through the vertebral bones. Disc injury usually occurs suddenly
after lifting something or twisting the back. Unlike a back strain, pain from a
disc injury usually lasts for more than 72 hours.

Sciatica

Sciatica can occur with a herniated disc if the disc presses on the sciatic
nerve. The sciatic nerve connects the spine to the legs. As a result, sciatica
can cause pain in the legs and feet. This pain usually feels like burning, or
pins and needles.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is when the spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the
spinal cord and spinal nerves.

Spinal stenosis is most commonly due to degeneration of the discs

between the vertebrae. The result is compression of the nerve roots or
spinal cord by bony spurs or soft tissues, such as discs.
Pressure on the spinal nerves causes symptoms such as:

● numbness
● cramping
● weakness

You might feel these symptoms anywhere in the body. Many people with
spinal stenosis notice their symptoms worsen when standing or walking.

Abnormal spine curvatures

Scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis are all conditions that cause abnormal
curvatures in the spine.

These are congenital conditions that are usually first diagnosed during
childhood or adolescence. The abnormal curvature causes pain and poor
posture because it places pressure on:

● muscles
 ● tendons
● ligaments
● vertebrae

Other conditions

There are a number of other conditions that cause lower back pain. These
conditions include:

● Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.

● Fibromyalgia is long-term pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles,
and tendons.
● Spondylitis is inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones.
● Spondylosis is a degenerative disorder that may cause loss of normal
spinal structure and function. Although aging is the primary cause of
the condition, the location and rate of degeneration is specific to the
individual.

Additional health conditions that can cause lower back pain include:

Kidney and bladder problems

 ● pregnancy
● endometriosis
● ovarian cysts
● uterine fibroids
● cancer

How is low back pain

diagnosed?

Your doctor will likely begin by requesting a complete medical history and
conducting a thorough physical examination to determine where you’re
feeling the pain. A physical exam can also determine if pain is affecting
your range of motion.

Your doctor may also check your reflexes and your responses to certain
sensations. This determines if your low back pain is affecting your nerves.

Unless you have concerning or debilitating symptoms or neurologic loss,

your doctor will probably monitor your condition for a few weeks before
sending you for testing. This is because most low back pain resolves using
simple self-care treatments.
Certain symptoms require more testing, including:

● lack of bowel control

● weakness
● fever
● weight loss

Likewise, if your low back pain continues after home treatment, your doctor
may want to order additional tests.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these

symptoms in addition to low back pain.

Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs may be

necessary so your doctor can check for:

● bone problems
● disc problems
● problems with the ligaments and tendons in your back
If your doctor suspects a problem with the strength of the bones in your
back, they may order a bone scan or bone density test. Electromyography
(EMG) or nerve conduction tests can help identify any problems with your
nerves.

The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need
help finding a doctor.

What’s Causing Pain Under

My Left Ribs?

Concerned about pain under your left ribs? Watch this video to learn about
possible causes.

0 seconds of 59 secondsVolume 0%

0:59

What’s Causing Pain Under My Left Ribs?

1:18

COVID-19 and Pain Relievers: What to Know

1:43

Break It Down: Abdominal Pain

1:09

What’s Causing Pain in the Left Side of My Chest?

1:12

Neck Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Treat It

1:01
What’s Causing Pain in the Right Side of My Chest?

1:10

Getting Knee Pain Under Control

1:14

Jaw Pain on One Side: Causes, Relief Tips, When…

1:06

3 Yoga Poses for Tight Hips

1:17

3 Yoga Poses for Tech Neck

Watch More
What are the treatment options
for low back pain?

Home care

Self-care methods are helpful for the first 72 hours after the pain begins. If
the pain doesn’t improve after 72 hours of home treatment, you should call
your doctor.

Stop your normal physical activities for a couple of days and apply ice to
your lower back. Doctors generally recommend using ice for the first 48 to
72 hours, then switching to heat.

Alternate ice and heat to relax muscles. The RICE protocol — rest, ice,
compression, and elevation — is recommended within the first 48 hours.

Take over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB),

or acetaminophen (Tylenol), to relieve pain.
Sometimes lying on your back causes more discomfort. If so, try lying on
your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your legs. If you can
lie comfortably on your back, place a pillow or rolled-up towel beneath your
thighs to reduce the pressure on the lower back.

A warm bath or a massage can often relax stiff and knotted muscles in the
back.

Medical treatment

Low back pain can occur with a number of different conditions, including:

● muscle strain and weakness

● pinched nerves
● spinal cord misalignment

There are a number of possible medical treatments including:

● medications
 ● medical appliances
● physical therapy

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dosage and application of drugs
and medications based on your symptoms.

Some medications your doctor may prescribe include:

● muscle relaxants
● nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
● narcotic drugs such as codeine for pain relief
● steroids to reduce inflammation
● corticosteroid injections

Your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy, including:

● massage
● stretching
● strengthening exercises
● back and spinal manipulation
Surgery

For severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Surgery is usually only an

option when all other treatments fail. However, if there’s loss of bowel or
bladder control, or a progressive neurological loss, surgery becomes an
emergency option.

A discectomy relieves pressure from a nerve root pressed on by a bulging

disc or bone spur. The surgeon will remove a small piece of the lamina, a
bony part of the spinal canal.

A foraminotomy is a surgical procedure that opens up the foramen, the

bony hole in the spinal canal where the nerve root exits.

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) involves inserting a needle

through a catheter into the disc and heating it up for 20 minutes. This
makes the disc wall thicker and cuts down on the inner disc’s bulging and
irritation of the nerve.
A nucleoplasty uses a wand-like device inserted through a needle into the
disc. It can then remove inner disc material. The device then uses radio
waves to heat and shrink the tissue.

Radiofrequency lesioning or ablation is a way to use radio waves to

interrupt the way the nerves communicate with each other. A surgeon
inserts a special needle into the nerves and heats it, which destroys the
nerves.

Spinal fusion makes the spine stronger and cuts down on painful motion.
The procedure removes discs between two or more of the vertebrae. The
surgeon then fuses the vertebrae next to each other with bone grafts or
special metal screws.

A spinal laminectomy, also known as spinal decompression, removes the

lamina to make the size of the spinal canal bigger. This relieves pressure
on the spinal cord and nerves.

How can I prevent low back

pain?
There are many ways to prevent low back pain. Practicing prevention
techniques may also help lessen the severity of your symptoms if you have
a lower back injury.

Prevention involves:

● exercising the muscles in your abdomen and back

● losing weight if you’re overweight
● lifting items properly by bending at the knees and lifting with the legs
● maintaining proper posture

You may also want to:

● sleep on a firm surface

● sit on supportive chairs that are at the correct height
● avoid high-heeled shoes
● quit smoking, if you smoke

Nicotine causes degeneration of spinal discs and also reduces blood flow.
Talk to your doctor about your lower back pain. They can diagnose the
cause and help you create a treatment plan that works best for you.

Read this article in Spanish.

Last medically reviewed on July 31, 2019

6 sources

collapsed

●
●

FEEDBACK:

Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — By Janelle Martel —

Updated on August 1, 2019

Was this article helpful?

YesNo
Lower Back Pain
Treatment Options

● Rest

● Heat or ice

● OTC pain relievers

● Prescription medications

● Exercise

● Traction, ultrasound, and TENS

● Alternative medicine

● Surgery

What is back pain?