Submitted By Stephen Ritter M.D.
06.30.2009

The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 people who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery.  More than half of those surveyed said pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer and 88 percent said it reoccurred through the year.  For many the pain became so severe that it interfered with sleep, sex and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.

These issues and concerns are leading many sufferers to ask “how can back pain be properly managed?”

• Rest: If your back hurts, rest. This doesn’t mean stay in bed for a week. Long-term rest can actually make back pain worse, as it often leads to stiffness and muscle weakness. After a short break, gently stretch your back muscles, and work on strengthening your stomach and leg muscles. Strengthening all muscle groups can actually help to reduce nagging back pain.

• Medications: If stretching and exercise doesn’t alleviate the pain, try adding a medication (e.g., Tylenol, etc.) to your treatment plan. Some over-the-counter medications relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and relax muscle spasms.

• See Your Doctor: If you’re experiencing back pain more frequently, and rest and over-the-counter medications don’t seem to be doing the trick, it’s time to see a doctor. A medical professional can rule out if disease or infection may be causing the pain, and determine the best course of treatment. Once your doctor has confirmed the source of your back pain, surgery may be recommended to reverse the damage.  However, surgery is typically considered the final resort and is only utilized once non-surgical treatment options have been deemed ineffective.

The overall goal is for you to resume normal or near normal physical activity as soon as possible.  If you are unable to accomplish this at home, it’s important to consult an orthopedic spine specialist who can help get you back on track.