Spine Article

Finding an Effective Back Pain Treatment

Just with anything else, the back pain you experience may be completely different from the back pain someone else experiences, could be caused by different issues, and won’t respond to the same type of treatment. The good news is that there are many treatment options out there that are effective for most people suffering from back pain; it just may take some time working with your doctor to find the one that will work the best for you. Together you will need to work out a customized treatment plan, and then you will need to give your doctor feedback as to how it works, after all, no one knows when you are in pain better than you do. Chances are, your doctor will have to make some occasional tweaks to the plan to keep you as pain free as possible, so just make certain that you are patient and open with your doctor about your condition, as it will speed up your recovery time drastically.

Most often, one of the first lines of treatments that doctors will try to ease your back pain are the traditional medication methods, as these help many patients. Some medications can help prevent muscle spasms, which can cause pain, joint inflammation, which can put pressure on the spine, causing pain, and even help ease muscle tension. Keep in mind; however, while these medications can help you with your back, they can in some people cause dangerous side effects as well. Your doctor should talk with you about these potential side effects, and then you will need to decide whether or not the benefit of taking the medication is worth the risk.

You may find relief from taking anti-inflammatory medications, which can reduce swelling and inflammation, taking pressure off the spine, often alleviating your pain. Common anti-inflammatory drugs include: aspirin, ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Ketoprofen, just to name a few of the most popular. The danger with this type of medication is that is often causes gastrointestinal problems, depending on the dosage and how long you take it.

If anti-inflammatory drugs aren’t effective, then you may also try pain relievers containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, Anacin, Phenaphen, and Valadol. These medications can help relieve your pain, although they may not work on every case.

If you have severe back pain, then your doctor may temporarily prescribe an Opiod drug, to help you through the pain, until another treatment method can be found. These drugs are very addictive, so you have to use extreme caution when taking them. Some physicians even refuse to prescribe these medications because of their extremely addictive nature, and often they are only given to cancer patients. Common Opiods include: morphine, codeine, Oxycontin, and Demerol, just to name a few.

If you are given anti-inflammatory medications, then you will also likely be prescribed muscle relaxants along with them, as they often work together to effectively treat back pain. Some examples of muscle relaxants include: Flexeril, Soma, Robaxin, and Valium.

If you would rather not be on these medications, talk with your doctor about alternative treatments that might work for you.