Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Common non-surgical treatments for back pain
Before considering back surgery, non-surgical treatments can provide good results for patients suffering from back pain. Be sure to talk with your physician about these therapies before you begin.
Heat
By dilating the blood vessels, heat therapy improves the supply of oxygen that the blood takes to the back. Heat also alters the sensation of pain. Heat therapy is generally used for chronic injuries or those with no inflammation or swelling, such as muscle spasms or sore, stiff, nagging muscle pain.
Medications
Back pain can be alleviated by over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as muscle relaxants, narcotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs/NSAIAs), or acetaminophen. Talk with your doctor to see which medication might be right for you.
Exercise
An effective approach to managing back pain is exercise. Generally, some form of consistent stretching, strengthening exercise is believed to be an essential component of most back treatment programs.
Physical Therapy
For some back pain, physical therapy may be prescribed. A physical therapist will assist with the use of exercises and physical activities to help condition muscles and restore strength and movement. Length and type of treatment depend upon the severity of the condition.
Massage
With the help of a trained professional, massage therapy may help. Before starting treatment, your therapist should ask detailed questions about your injury and the location of the pain in order to determine which therapy is best.
Acupuncture
A consensus panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 concluded that acupuncture might be effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for low back pain, among other conditions.