What You Need to Know About Low Back Pain

Important to know: 

• Try to remain as active as possible; bedrest can delay recovery. As much as possible, gradually return to normal activities. A little bit of pain is normal and it does not mean you are harming yourself. However, if the activity intensifies the pain too much, avoid it until pain improves.  
• Mild discomfort during recovery is normal and does not mean you are causing damage 
• Most likely, your pain is caused by muscle spasms. Heat relaxes muscle spasms. You can apply heat with a heating pad, a hot water bottle or a warm towel for up to twenty minutes several times per day but make sure not to burn yourself.  
• Over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can reduce pain. However, if you have stomach problems or kidney disease, avoid these medications.  Start with acetaminophen since it’s the gentlest and if it does not provide adequate relief, advance to ibuprofen or naproxen. If you require these medications for more than one week, consult your physician.  
• Treatments such as acupuncture, trigger point injections (or dry needling), spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and muscle relaxant medications can also be helpful.  
• The most important treatment for low back pain is exercise for your “core” muscles. If you do not have an exercise program, you should consult a physical therapist to ensure that you develop an effective program.  
• Call your doctor or go to the Emergency Room immediately if you experience loss of bladder or bowl control, numbness in the groin or genital area, new leg weakness, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, a recent severe trauma, severe abdominal pain or fever 
• If your pain is not improving after 4-6 weeks, talk to your doctor about additional treatment options such as trigger point injections (or dry needling), acupuncture, massage therapy or chiropractic consult.