- Medications:
These
may range from over the counter medications (aspirin, NSAIDS, acetaminophen) to prescription drugs (opioids). It is
recommended that one only takes them as prescribed by the doctor due to their
side effects on liver and kidneys.
2. Hot and cold
therapy:
Application
of cold in the initial 48-72 hours post injury helps to reduce swelling, redness, warmth and thus cause numbing of the pain.
Heat therapy
is beneficial post 5-7 days of injury. It helps to increase blood supply which
helps to promote healing and wash out the dead tissue. It also promotes a
general sense of relaxation. However, care should be taken to ensure that a low
level heat is provided. Otherwise, it can cause burns and additional tissue
damage.
Both these therapies act at tissue level
to bring about the above mentioned effects.
Their mechanism of action is given
below :
- Physical therapy:
A licensed physical therapist will design a tailor made exercise
regimen comprising of
stretching,
strengthening, kinetic control, and conditioning exercises. He/She will also
work to improve your posture and bio mechanics during various activities. These
exercises are needed to be performed during the rehabilitative stage and also
later on for maintenance and preventive stages.
4.
Massage:
Current
literature suggests that massage might be beneficial in subacute(4-12 weeks)
and chronic(more than 12 weeks) stage of back pain especially when combined
with exercise and patient education. There is also evidence which states that
the more experienced your massage therapist is the better are are benefits
obtained from a massage.
- Chiropractic treatment:
These
work along the principle of realigning the spine to relieve any undue pressure
on
the nerves thereby reducing pain and
disability. Studies on using this approach for back pain have mixed reviews.
6. Epidural
injections:
This consist of injecting either steroids or anesthetic drugs into
the epidural space that surrounds the spinal cord and spinal nerves. It is
opted when the pain is very severe or in case of failure of other conservative
treatments for back pain. There is limited evidence that epidural injections in
combination with home stretching exercises are not better than just home
stretching exercises. However, to ensure long term improvements in pain and
disability, one needs to compliment this therapy with exercises recommended by
your physical therapist.
- Lifestyle modifications:. These include
giving up alcohol and smoking, doing regular exercises, diet
modifications, meditation and yoga and getting adequate sleep etc. In
addition to these, one must ensure that he/she maintains a good posture
and takes regular ‘ergo breaks’. This will minimize the stresses on your
joints thus avoiding pain.
- Ozone therapy is an
experimental therapy that is extensively researched in recent times
worldover. It involves injecting ozone gas into the spine that shrinks
herniated discs thus alleviating back pain.
- Alternative therapy:
These include acupuncture, acupressure, naturopathy, Music therapy, Su
Jok therapy, etc.