Exercise and keep going

Continue with normal activities as far as possible. You are likely to recover more quickly and are less likely to develop chronic back pain if you keep active rather than rest a lot. As a rule, don't do anything that causes a lot of pain. However, you will have to accept some discomfort when you are trying to keep active.

Medication

If you need painkillers, it is best to take them regularly. This is better than taking them 'now and again' just when the pain is very bad. If you take them regularly the pain is more likely to be eased for much of the time and enable you to exercise and keep active. People usually take:

• Paracetamol
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers, like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc. Some people with asthma, high blood pressure, kidney failure, or heart failure may not be able to take anti-inflammatories.
• A stronger painkiller such as codeine (it may cause constipation, so have lots to drink and eat foods with plenty of fibre)
• A muscle relaxant

Physical treatments

Some people visit a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath for manipulation and/or other physical treatments. Physical treatments provide some short-term comfort and hasten recovery in some cases. It can help build muscle strength, flexibility, improve mobility, coordination, stability, balance, and promotes relaxation.

Spine Surgery

Seldom is surgery required to treat low back pain. Surgery may be considered if the patient is experiencing bowel or bladder dysfunction, increased nerve impairment, progressive weakness, incapacitating pain, or spinal instability. The surgical procedure depends on the diagnosis or the cause of low back pain.

Other treatments

• Acupuncture
• Massage - on its own has been shown to be more effective than relaxation and acupuncture, but less effective than exercise and spinal manipulative therapy. It is best used in combination with other treatments rather than by itself.
• Tens machines - these are small electronic nerve stimulators that can reduce pain by calming down the pain impulses from the lower back. They have a nice tingling feeling.