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Back Pain Health Center

Back Pain Features Email a Friend Print Article Back Pain Health Center Tools & ResourcesLow Back Pain Causes Is Your Back Pain Sciatica? Herniated Disk: What Happens Lower Back Pain Quiz Everyday Aches and Pains Quiz Get Chronic Pain Coping Tips webmd.m.share.init(); Font Size A A A webmd.m.fontSizer.init(); Find the Right Treatment for Your Back Pain ByR. Morgan Griffin
WebMD Feature Reviewed byLaura J. Martin, MD

What will help your back pain? There are a lot of choices.

Your best plan depends on your specific case. For instance, has your back been hurting for a couple of days, or a long time? Did it start with an obvious injury, or are you not really sure what happened? Are you basically healthy, or do you have other conditions, like diabetes or arthritis, to consider, too?

Recommended Related to Back Pain Managing Your Back Pain at Home

If you got up this morning and thought, “Ugh, my back hurts,” you’re not alone. About one in five Americans reports having experienced back pain at least once during the previous month. So, should you go to the doctor? Not necessarily. Most low back pain resolves on its own within about four to six weeks, with or without medical treatment. In many cases, you can manage your back pain at home. First, you should know when it’s a bad idea to handle your back pain yourself. If you have significant...

Read the Managing Your Back Pain at Home article > >

The good news is that there are a lot of effective options for you and your doctor to consider, including some you can do at home for little cost.

Home Back Pain Treatments

Most back pain goes away on its own within a few days to weeks. For many, home back pain treatments are enough to ease discomfort while the body heals.

Exercise. Resting your back for a day or so after hurting yourself is fine. After that, you need to get active. Stretching, walking, swimming, and other gentle exercises can help you recover. You might want to check with a qualified trainer or physical therapist to make sure you aren't overdoing it, and that you are using good form, which can make a difference in how your back feels. Heat and Ice. If you're injured, apply cold packs to numb the pain and reduce swelling. Use them for up to 20 minutes, several times a day, for the first two to three days. After that, use a heating pad or warm baths to ease pain. Over-the-Counter Medications. Common painkillers like Advil, Motrin IB (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), aspirin, and Tylenol or Paracetamol (acetaminophen) can help with mild pain. However, if you find yourself using these on an ongoing basis, you should tell your doctor. You may also get relief from painkilling creams or ointments that you rub on the skin. Treatments a Doctor Can Provide

See a doctor if at-home back pain treatments aren't working or your pain has lasted longer than a few weeks. You may need a new approach.

Injections. Your doctor may inject medicine into tissue, joints, or nerves in your back. Steroids can reduce swelling and pain. Painkillers can numb pain. Depending on the person and the type of medication injected, relief may last from several days to several months. Physical Therapy. A physical therapist can give you exercises to build strength, help your posture, and improve how you move, so your back can recover and you can keep it strong. Prescription Medication. For serious or long-lasting pain, your doctor may suggest prescription medication. This may include anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, opioid painkillers, or antidepressants. Surgery. Most people with back pain don't need surgery. But for certain people it can be the right treatment. A surgeon can repair damaged discs or fractures. However, surgery may not be a permanent solution. The pain sometimes returns. 1 | 2 Next Page > #url_reference {display: none};#url_reference { display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10px; }#logo_rdr img { visibility: visible; }.titleBar_rdr .titleBarMiddle_fmt { padding-top: 1.5em !important;} Top Picks Exercises for Chronic Pain Injections for Back Pain: What You Need to Know Back Pain: What You Need to Know What Fibromyalgia Looks Like 12 Tips to Ease Back Pain Water Knife Surgery for Back Pain Back Pain Home News Reference Videos Community Questions and Answers Glossary Medications