Conditions such as osteomyelitis and discitis in which the vertebrae or the vertebral discs are affected by infection can also cause back pain. Another important cause of back ache is stress, which can cause the muscles of the back to become tense and painful.

Treatments For Back Pain

The main aim of back pain treatment is pain relief and restoration of normal movement. If the pain is due to stress or minor injury, then the treatment for relieving the pain is rest. Such patients may be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin to reduce their pain and inflammation. Physical therapy treatments including massage, ultrasound, controlled heat application and customized exercise programs can help you make restore normal back movements. One can further prevent back injury by learning the proper methods of exercising, stretching, lifting and maintaining a good posture.

For back pain which interferes with your daily routine, there are many over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen that are helpful. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medicines and muscle relaxants. As the main effect of these medicines is on the brain and not the muscles, they may lead to drowsiness in some patients. If back pain still persists, you will be referred to a back specialist doctor, who may use injections of steroids and anesthetics to help control the pain. Newer treatments such as radio frequency ablation, which involves the electrical stimulation of specific nerves to make them less sensitive to pain, may also be helpful in providing back pain relief.

Surgery may also be performed in patients suffering from non-specific back pain. Rhizotomy is surgical procedure which involves severing a nerve to stop the transmission of pain to the brain. It can be used in patients with pain caused by extreme nerve damage.

There are some other alternative methods of treating back pain. Acute low back pain can also be treated by chiropractors and osteopaths effectively. Acupuncture too may be used to get moderate to complete back pain relief.