Lower Back Pain Relief
Lower back pain relief programs and products are so popular these days because of the great demand. Lower back pain is by far the second most common symptom found in medical practice in the United States. About 85% of all Americans experience an attack or more of lower back pain at a point or another during their lives. Luckily, lower back pain relief programs can treat the symptom over a period of 2 to 4 weeks. So, what are the best lower back pain relief options?
Lower back pain relief through physical therapy
Physical therapy is almost always effective in the treatment of acute lower back pain. The aim of physical therapy in this setting is achieving sufficient pain control rather than increasing the strength of the muscles of the back. Physical therapy as a lower back pain relief program usually comprises 6 steps:
Controlling pain and inflammation: This should be started early via cold compresses and other pain controlling technologies such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices.
Restoring the joints’ range of movements: This can be achieved with the aid of special exercises and ultrasound therapy.
Boosting muscular strength: This can be started after pain control has been achieved. The aim of this step is to restore the proper muscular control of the joints of the lower back.
Coordination training: These represent a group of exercises that are designed to boost coordinated muscular actions.
Maximizing endurance of the cardiovascular system: During this phase, patients are usually advised to go jogging, cycling; swimming…etc to increase the endogenous endorphin levels which create a sense of well being that ameliorates the perceived pain.
Maintenance programs: These are special exercises that can be performed at home and are customized according to each patient’s endurance to promote fitness after completion of the physical therapy lower back pain relief program.
Lower back pain relief through medications (Analgesics)
Acetaminophen is by far the most commonly prescribed drug for lower back pain relief as it has minimal side effects and is well tolerated by most individuals. Acetaminophen is a member of a large group of pain medications that are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Although NSAIDs in general are the most commonly prescribed pain medications for lower back pain relief, they are only effective for a short duration after which the patient becomes resistant to their pain alleviation effects.
Topical lidocaine patches that can be applied externally to the area of the pain have been lately used for lower back pain relief.
Opioids remain the best drug for controlling acute severe pain; however, their role in the management of chronic lower back pain is still questionable. They can be taken orally or in the form of transcutaneous patches.
Lower back pain relief through muscular relaxants
Muscular relaxants are useful in the control of lower back pain. The pain is usually aggravated by spasm of the muscles of the back. Reducing the tone of these muscles has been shown to ameliorate the pain. Examples of muscular relaxants include cyclobenzaprine, orphenardine and carisoprodol.
Lower back pain relief through Neurologic Relief Center (NRC) technique
The NRC is a form of chiropractic therapy that has recently gained wide acceptance due to its astonishing results. It is a hands-on technique that has been effective in controlling pain that associates many diseases such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and idiopathic lower back pain. The technique involves compression of special areas on the back of the neck which leads to amelioration of the pressure acting on the nerve fibers.
Lower back pain relief options are rather numerous. If you suffer from back pain, don’t hesitate to ask your physician about the best treatment option that can suit your case.