Take Action to Heal Your Back

Treatment for acute low back pain
Acute low back pain is pain that has lasted less than 3 months. If you have recently started to have low back pain, there's a good chance that it will get better within a few weeks. Most low back pain will improve if you take the following steps:

• For the first day or two, rest in a comfortable position. Try lying on your side with a pillow between your knees. Or lie on your back on the floor with a pillow under your knees. Do not stay in one position for too long, though. Every 2 or 3 hours, take a short walk (about 10 to 20 minutes), then find a comfortable position to rest again.
• Take pain medicine if needed, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or medicines that reduce pain, swelling, and irritation, including ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (such as Aleve or Naprosyn). These medicines usually work best if you take them on a regular schedule instead of waiting until the pain is severe.
• Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting, or a warm shower, for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Or you can buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours. You can also try an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. There is not strong evidence that either heat or ice will help, but you can try them to see if they help. You may also want to try switching between heat and cold.
• As soon as possible, get back to your normal activities. Movement helps your muscles stay strong. Staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can actually make your problem worse.

Walking is the simplest and perhaps the best exercise for the low back. Your doctor or a physical therapist can recommend more specific exercises to help your back muscles get stronger. These may include a series of simple exercises called core stabilization. The muscles of your trunk, or core, support your spine. Strengthening these muscles can improve your posture, keep your body in better balance, and decrease your chance of injury. For more information, see:

     Fitness: Increasing core stability.

Most people have at least one repeat episode of low back pain. If you have had low back pain, remember that your back is now more vulnerable than before. Keep your stomach and back muscles strong, lift properly, and use good posture. For more information, see:

     Low back pain: Exercises to reduce pain.

     Back problems: Proper lifting.

One treatment choice for acute low back pain is spinal manipulation, or spinal manual therapy. The aim of spinal manipulation is to increase a joint's range of motion. Spinal manipulation can be done by a chiropractor, osteopathic doctor, or some physical therapists or physiatrists. For more information on this type of treatment, see:

     Should I have spinal manipulative therapy to treat low back pain?

New research suggests that a brief program of instruction in pain management—addressing how to manage usual daily activities, how to deal with worries about back pain, and overcoming fear of causing pain—can also be an effective treatment for low back pain.