How to treat lower back pain?

Lots to do: Lets assume the pain is not from something serious or a herniated disk, stenosis or anything pathologic. Exercise to sthengthen abdominal muscles and the muscles in your back, stretching, care to avoid bending and twisting at the same time, anti-inflammatories or tylenol, (acetaminophen) heat, good body posture and body mechanics (lifting correctly), weight reduction are a good start.Exercise and walk or swim.

Depends: Acute lbp 80% of the time resolve by itself within 1-3 weeks. You can have otc medication or have your dr prescribe an anti inflammatory/muscle relaxer combo. Chronic back pain or any back pain more than 3 weeks will depend on cause.

Stretch !: Stretching our back and joints is important, just standing and stretching every so often will help. Proper "restorative sleep" , hydration, wight control and ergonomic measures at work and home will help. Progressive symptoms, leg weakness and changes in bladder or bowel habits must be evaluated !

See your PCP: Pcp = primary care provider. There are multiple causes of low back. The first step is to get a medical evaluation. Most back pain is due to muscle spasm, osteoarthritis, or mechanical factors. However, most cases are benign and resolve on their own. Pt, core exercises, heat & muscle relaxants can be very helpful. I have had excellent results with inversion tables. Don't try if contraindicated.

Let us see: You know what is the cause of the lower back pain then we should treat it. Let me remind that treating your without medical advice is not recommended. Thank you.

Home treatments: Try heat or ice, a back brace, rolling on a soft small ball or a tens unit. If the pain is severe or disrupting your life, see a doctor. To really treat your back pain, you must have an accurate diagnosis. Once the cause of the pain is known, a specific treatment can be utilized to alleviate the symptoms. Most back pains go away in 2-3 weeks time without any treatment at all. If not, see a md.

SEE A PAIN DOC: Back pain can come from a number of different issues - muscles, facet joints, disc degeneration/bulging, nerve irriation, stenosis or narrowing around nerves. It is best to have a thorough examination with a board certified pain specialist to determine the like cause of your pain. Then appropriate options can be discussed for treatment. The sooner you seek treatment the sooner you will fell better.

Low back pain: Work on strengthening your core muscles (low back and abdomen) through a low impact routine. Stretching is very important and can include traction, knees to chest, pelvic tilts, etc. A medicine ball is a good tool. These exercises can be guided by a therapist or chiropractor with other modalities as well. More aggressive options include cortisone injections. See your doctor for advice.