Best Remedies for Back Pain
Kim Schworm Acosta
A whopping eight out of 10 people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. And when it strikes, all you want to do is stop the hurting -- and fast.
But that urge for quick answers and results could lead to a barrage of unhelpful tests and invasive treatments that don’t provide long-term relief, says Dr. Roger Chou, a physician and associate professor of internal medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, who co-wrote the recent American Pain Society’s guidelines on diagnosing and treating low-back pain.
Find out what you should do instead:
Your first instinct: Call 911!
Your best bet: Stay home.
“The vast majority of people with back pain don’t need to see a doctor,” says Chou. However, do call your primary physician ASAP if you have any of the following:
- Foot drag, which could be a sign of a neurological problem
- Difficulty urinating, which could signal possible compression at the tail of the spinal cord
- Fever, a sign of infection
- A history of cancer
Your first instinct: Put it on ice.
Your best bet: Apply heat.
There’s strong evidence that heat alleviates back pain. “Most people think ice is best, but there are very few studies supporting that,” says Chou. Heating pads, hot gel packs and even hot baths can help.
Your first instinct: Vicodin, please! Your best bet: Take OTC pain relievers.
Narcotics and muscle relaxants can cause drowsiness and dry mouth and possibly addiction, so they shouldn’t be your first line of defense, says Chou. Pop acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed on the bottle -- both over-the-counter drugs are proven ways to relieve back pain.
Your first instinct: Lie down for a few days.
Your best bet: Do normal activities.
It seems logical that taking to your bed would give your back muscles some much-needed rest, but studies show that people who lie down take longer to recover. Instead, maintain your normal level of activity as much as possible, says Chou.
If you haven’t gotten better in three to four weeks or your pain is still so severe after a week that you’re unable to work, call your doctor: You may need some stronger pain medication in the short term while your body recovers. You might also consider alternative therapies that have been shown to work well in some patients: massage, spinal manipulation, acupuncture and a process called cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps identify and correct mistaken assumptions about your pain.
Kim Schworm Acosta is the managing editor of Oral Care and Health Daily.
Available at Amazon.com:
- Stents Useful Alternative to Temporary Colostomy In Some Patients With Colon Cancer
- 'Bump' On Collarbone Not Uncommon After Fracture
- Best Remedies for Back Pain
- Stop Insomnia - Inside the Mind of an Insomniac
- MLD a Rare and Serious Progressive Disease
- Sleep Apnea: Keeping Up the Positive Pressure
- Alternatives to Statins for Lowering Cholesterol
- Recurrence of Basal Cell Carcinoma Uncommon After Mohs Surgery
- Can Surgery Treat Type 2 Diabetes?
- Self-Care Techniques to Relieve Discomfort From Buttock Pain
- Artificial Lenses Have Long Been Used to Correct Vision
- Gene Mutation That Causes Huntington's Can Occur Spontaneously
- Is It Better to Stop Smoking Abruptly or Gradually?
- Brain Scan Alone Cannot Predict Likelihood of Dementia
- Is Sunscreen Dangerous? 4 Sun Protection Dos And Don'ts
- Low Platelet Count Not Necessarily Reason to Postpone Surgery
- Could Swimming in Cool Water Cause a Heart Attack?
- Bringing Psoriasis Under Control
- Best Summer Foods for Sensitive Stomachs
- Fight the Common Mold Allergy
- Largest Ever Cell Phone Cancer Study is Inconclusive
- Treating Early-Stage Esophageal Cancer
- TNF Inhibitors Offer Relief to Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Prostate Exam Good First Stop When PSA Levels Increase
- 7 Nasty Germs That Could Land Your Kid in the Hospital And How to Avoid Them
- Secondhand Smoke A Serious Public and Personal Health Problem
- What to do About Excessive Belching and Feeling Full?
- Chest Pain: A Heart Attack or Something Else?
- Screening Plays Key Role in Detecting Polyps Before They Become Cancerous
- Learn How to Read Supplement Labels
- Compression-Only CPR Can Replace Conventional CPR in Many Circumstances
- Diabetes: Could You Have Diabetes and Not Know It
- Fighting Inflammation with Food
- Cortisone Injections Unlikely to Have Negative Affect on Bones
- Bad Health Habits Rob Years From Life Span
- The Importance of Decreasing Dietary Sodium
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Takes Your Breath Away
- 7 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease
- Hypotension or Stiff Arteries May Cause Low Diastolic Blood Pressure
- Is It OK to Travel to a High Altitude With High Blood Pressure?
- Existing Drugs to Treat Herpes Are Very Effective
- Dry Mouth Can Be a Serious Problem
- 6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
- All About Gout: Old Disease Becoming More Common
- Frequent Monitoring Critical to Effectively Manage Scleroderma
- How to Identify Suicide Risk Before It's Too Late
- Tips for Natural Allergy Relief
- Inflammation May Play Role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Bouncing Back After Being Sick
- Nicotine Patch May Offer Some Benefit to Ulcerative Colitis
- Common Myths and Misconceptions About Diabetes
- Vitamin E Supplements Not Recommended for Those With Diabetes
- Tick-Borne Disease Risk Peaks in Spring and Summer
- Meibomitis Creates Receptive Environment for Bacteria
- Top 4 Seasonal Allergy Mistakes
- Stress Less: Ten Strategies That Work
- Paralyzed Limbs Revived by Hacking Into Nerves
- Can Acid Reflux Damage my Esophagus
- Treadmill Test Can Reveal Hidden Problems in Heart
- Suffering From Allergies? Tailor Treatment to Your Symptoms
- Researchers Break Through to Unconscious Patients
- Key Factors Related to Heart Attack Risk
- Type 2 Diabetes Increases Risk for Cardiovascular Problems
- Hypochondria: The Impossible Illness
- Surgeries Can be Combined But May Not be Necessary
- Is Heartburn Surgery the Answer?
- Best Cooking Methods for Heartburn Sufferers
- 14 Things You Might Not Know About Aspirin
Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.