When your back hurts, it’s hard to think of anything other than immediate pain relief. So maybe you ice it, take a tablet or two of ibuprofen, give it some rest and that may do the trick – for now.
If you’re struggling with chronic back pain, you want immediate and lasting relief. The most effective approach to relieving pain is one that mixes home remedies with targeted treatments. We’ll tell you about the types of back pain, effective back pain treatments and how to know if you need to speak with a doctor.
Identifying the types of back pain
There are two main types of back pain: acute back pain and chronic back pain. The difference between them is how long the pain lasts. Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions we see in patients, but it’s possible to feel pain anywhere in your back:
- Acute back pain lasts for less than six weeks. Sudden back pain, like after a fall or a hard workout at the gym, is often acute back pain and will typically heal on its own.
- Chronic back pain lasts for longer than six weeks. You might not know what caused the pain, and the back pain might come on slowly over the course of several weeks. Chronic back pain often needs treatment in order for it to heal.
There are many common causes of back pain, including muscle deconditioning, improper posture, muscle overuse, injury, aging and genetics. And in most cases, chronic back pain isn’t caused by a single event. It’s most likely a combination of many causes that contribute to the pain.
Chronic back pain relief and treatment
The two main types of back pain treatments are short-term and long-term. Short-term treatments are like a temporary patch, they’ll help you manage your pain for a set period of time, but the pain will eventually return. The goal of long-term back pain treatments is to provide lasting relief. Both types of treatments have their purpose.
Short-term back pain treatments
Short-term pain management helps with immediate back pain relief. These kinds of treatments help you get your pain under control so you can stay active while you pursue a long-term solution. Common short-term treatment strategies combine both home remedies and therapeutic treatments.
Heat therapy and cold therapy to help back pain
Heat therapy and cold therapy are two sides of the same coin. Heat therapy uses warm water or heating pads to relieve muscle pain, while cold therapy uses ice or cold water. In certain situations, using heat therapy and cold therapy can help relieve pain and promote healing.
For new or acute pain – like pain caused by a fall or other pain that shouldn’t last beyond six weeks – cold therapy can be a great way to reduce swelling, decrease inflammation and numb pain.
For chronic pain – pain that’s expected to last or has lasted for more than six weeks – heat is usually the temperature of choice for soothing pain and stimulating the healing process.
You might benefit from both hot and cold therapy. For instance, after exercise, immediate cold therapy can reduce muscle soreness. After 24 hours, switching to heat therapy can help your muscles heal faster.
Anti-inflammatory medicines for back pain relief
Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide complete relief for most cases of back pain in the short term. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) are commonly recommended, but make sure you talk with your doctor first.
Massage therapy to relieve back pain
A therapeutic rubdown from a back specialist can go a long way toward relieving muscle tension and pain. The extra flexibility gained, although temporary, can keep you moving pain free, making it easier to tackle your day.
Chiropractic care to treat back pain
Spine manipulations performed by a chiropractor can also provide immediate relief. This can allow you to work on exercises or movements that help your joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments in the long term.
Acupuncture for back aches
Acupuncture is a traditional eastern medicine practice shown to reduce back pain for most people who try it. During this therapy, a trained acupuncturist inserts extremely thin needles at strategic points and varying depths throughout your body. This stimulates your central nervous system, jump-starting your body’s natural healing ability. Acupuncture may help reduce inflammation that causes chronic back pain.
Steroid injections for severe back pain
Cortisone injections are usually a temporary solution. While they can be effective at reducing inflammation and providing short-term relief, it’s recommended that patients try less invasive options first.
Common sprains and strains aren’t candidates for steroid injections. Rather, these are reserved for more extreme cases of chronic back pain like debilitating nerve pain and ruptured discs.
Long-term back pain relief and treatments
If chronic back pain makes it difficult for you to move throughout your day, it might be time for you to seek out long-term pain relief. Common back pain treatments used for back pain relief include physical therapy, manual therapy and back surgery.
Specialized physical therapy for back pain
Physical therapy is a type of treatment that uses targeted exercises to improve your strength and flexibility. By strengthening the muscles that support your back, you can take pressure off your spine and reduce back pain. Physical therapy can help you ease and manage pain so you can do everyday activities. And physical therapists have experience treating both acute and chronic back pain. They’ll guide you through exercises designed to manage your specific symptoms.
Physical therapy is often the best treatment option for back pain. Improving your muscle strength and learning how to perform daily activities without straining your back can resolve your chronic pain. It typically takes about six weeks to complete a back pain physical therapy program, though many people start feeling pain relief after their first visit.
Manual therapy for back pain
Similar to massage therapy, manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy. Also known as hands-on care, manual therapy manipulates your muscles and joints. This helps improve your mobility and the function of your body. Think of manual therapy as a more targeted and purposeful massage.
Back surgery for severe back pain relief
Back surgery is typically recommended when other, more conservative treatments aren’t able to help you feel better. Back surgery can be used to treat herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spine injuries and even severe lower back pain. When it’s done under the right circumstances and at the right time, back surgery can be an effective long-term solution for chronic back pain.
Home remedies for back pain
Mixing home remedies with medical treatments can be an effective way to manage back pain. There are several ways you can relieve the strain on your back muscles, reduce your risk of back injuries and improve your overall spine health at home.
Correcting your posture
How you sit, stand and position your head may seem trivial. In the long run though, good posture is about much more than how you present yourself – it’s critical for keeping your spine in line. By simply keeping your spine where it should be, you give your neck and back everyday relief from unnecessary strain.
Your spine does its best work when it’s straight. Do your best to sit and stand up straight throughout the day. If you notice yourself hunching over your phone or computer, remind yourself to straighten up.
Being mindful of your movements
How many times has someone told you to “lift with your legs, not with your back”? Though it has almost become cliché, it’s good advice. Your lower back supports a lot of the function of your body. Even if you lift using correct posture most of the time, a few haphazard hoists can be all it takes to cause long-term pain.
For example, parents with small children will lean over and pick them up out of a crib several times a day. Once or twice might not put much strain on the back, but repeating this movement hundreds or thousands of times over the years can cause serious discomfort. Mind those movements today, and your back will be more forgiving in the future.
Strengthen your back with exercise
Exercise regularly to maintain stability, range of motion and a heathy weight. We’ll talk about targeted back exercise in just a bit, but it’s important to know that exercise of any type can help you build muscle strength.
Many people with chronic back pain see improvement with physical activity. If you sit most of the time at your job, be sure to get up every hour and move around. If your old go-to exercises aren’t as enjoyable because they make your back hurt, explore alternatives.
Exercises that are soft on your joints, like water aerobics and yoga, are popular among people with back pain. Look for low-impact exercises offered at your local community center or gym. Your local public school may also offer open swim times and other community classes.
Watch what you eat
A balanced diet is good for your overall health and well-being – but it’s also good for your back.
A healthy diet can keep those extra pounds away, and that means less strain on your spine and back muscles. Also, trans fats and processed foods are associated with inflammation. For back pain sufferers, a diet filled with natural, nutrient-rich foods can have you feeling better in more ways than one. Eating anti-inflammatory foods like colorful vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish may be good for back pain.
Reduce stress
Stress can cause your muscles to tense up – particularly those in your neck, shoulders and back. All that tension ultimately leads to back pain. Lean on your go-to stress relievers as a way to relieve that day-to-day tension.
Getting at least eight hours of sleep at night is good for back pain. To make sure you’re getting enough sleep, actually count the hours of good sleep you’re getting. If you wake up in the middle of the night, get up and walk around for a few minutes rather than toss and turn. Do some light stretches, then try going back to bed. If that doesn’t help you sleep, try a different sleeping position that’s more comfortable for your back.
What’s the best sleeping position for lower back pain
Getting enough sleep is easier said than done when your back pain won’t go to bed. If the pain is keeping you up, try different sleeping positions for back pain relief.
- Sleep on your side in the fetal position
- Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees
- Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees
- Sleep on your stomach with a pillow under your pelvis
These positions can take pressure off your spine and help reduce your lower back pain while sleeping. Experiment with these positions to see which feels most comfortable. The best sleeping position for lower back pain is the position that feels good for you.
When to see a doctor for back pain relief and treatment
Any time you’re experiencing back pain that lasts longer than two weeks with no improvement, we strongly recommend you seek care.
- Unexplained fever
- Urinary incontinence
- Unexplained weight loss
- New difficulty moving your arms or legs
- Saddle anesthesia (numbness in your butt, thighs and groin)
Talk with your doctor about these symptoms so you can rule out any unexpected causes. If you think you need care right away, you can also go to your nearest orthopedic urgent care location.
Getting started with specialized physical therapy for chronic back pain
Many people with chronic back pain are under the impression that they have two options: live with pain or have surgery. This isn’t true. There are several nonsurgical back pain treatments that can help you manage your symptoms, including specialized physical therapy for back pain.
At TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening Program, specialized physical therapy has been at the center of our spinal strengthening programs for more than 30 years.
Our doctors and rehabilitation specialists at TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening will partner with you to design a program just for you. We specialize in treating the most complex types of back pain, including severe lower back pain, back pain that causes symptoms in your limbs, and recurring back pain. Our unique approach to back pain treatment has helped thousands of people recover. Our programs are based not only on your back pain levels but also your mobility, current level of strength, and your clinical testing results and evaluation outcomes.
The equipment you’ll use is highly specialized, not something you’d see at your local gym. It’s engineered to target the exact areas back pain sufferers need to focus on. For many people, strength, endurance and mobility-promoting exercises help create a pain-free and healthy body.
Want to learn more about TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening? Watch this short video.
Take the first step. Make an appointment for chronic back pain treatment.
If you have a new injury or you don’t think you’re ready for an intensive program like TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening, a great place to start is to find a physical therapy location and make an appointment.
Our physical therapists are experts at evaluating back pain and developing strength and mobility exercises personalized to each patient. You can make a physical therapy appointment without a referral. In most cases, our physical therapy plans take about six weeks to complete – but many of our patients start feeling better after their first session.
If you’ve tried physical therapy and other treatments for chronic back pain and still struggle with the symptoms, a more specialized treatment plan might be exactly what you need for lasting relief. While chronic pain is long lasting, it doesn’t have to be permanent. That’s where TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening may be able to help.
If you’re ready to find a better way to manage and heal your back pain, schedule an in-person or video visit consultation with TRIA Neck and Back Strengthening today.
Are you ready to take the first step to healing from chronic back pain? Schedule a consultation appointment.