Treatment and Prevention
Anti-inflammatory medications, painkillers, and rest are common treatments
for mild to moderate back pain. Surgery, bed rest, and medications have
been used to treat severe back disorders without much success. Doctors now know
that long periods without exercise can make back disorders worse: it weakens
the muscles, increases the risk of blood clots, and makes it harder to get back
to doing normal activities. As soon as the most severe pain goes away, back
disorders should be treated with daily exercises to improve general fitness,
as well as with exercise routines geared to the specific back problem. Your
doctor or physiotherapist should provide a personalized exercise routine for
back problems. Brisk walking, cycling, and swimming are excellent exercises
for people with bad backs. A health care professional can also provide instruction
about proper lifting techniques to minimize stress on the back.
Your doctor may advise you to lose weight, which may also ease some back problems.
Alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture may help some people with
back pain.