Here is something simple you can do at home to get rid of your low back pain.

My name is Dr. David Geier – orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine expert. I help you feel, look and perform your best, regardless of age or injury.

Low back pain is one of the most common sources of pain in the United States. In fact, more than 80 percent of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. The majority of these cases are temporary and resolve within a few weeks or months without any treatment at all. But for some people, low back pain can be more serious—and even disabling—in its severity and duration. In these instances, it’s important to seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment options

Rest

Rest is the most important thing to do when you have low back pain. Resting can help prevent further injury, and it will also help you heal faster. If your doctor or physical therapist recommends that you rest until your pain is gone, then listen to them! Don’t work through the pain–it’s not worth it. Now often you don’t need complete rest or bed rest. Often it’s just avoiding activities and exercises that make the pain worse.

Ice

Ice is the fastest way to relieve low back pain at home. Use ice for 15-20 minutes, every 2 hours for the first few days. Ice can be used in conjunction with heat.

Heat

You can use heat to relax your muscles and relieve pain by applying it before you start exercising.

Medications

Medications are another way to relieve back pain, but they’re not always the best option. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce inflammation and swelling, but they do have side effects, especially if you take them for long periods of time. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be a better option for you if you have concerns about taking NSAIDs. I’m not a huge fan of muscle relaxants, but muscle relaxants like diazepam (Valium) can also be helpful in reducing muscle spasms associated with low back pain for some patients. These drugs have potential side effects like drowsiness and confusion that may make them less desirable than other treatments.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is my favorite approach to low back pain. It involves a careful assessment of your posture, balance and muscle imbalances. A physical therapist can teach you exercises that focus on strengthening the core muscles in the lower back, which will help support the spine and improve overall stability. If you’re suffering from chronic low-back pain, physical therapy may be able to help reduce or even eliminate it completely.

If you’re dealing with low back pain, try these things and see which ones work best for you. If you don’t get better fairly quickly, or if you have more serious symptoms, such as pain radiating down one leg, numbness, tingling or weakness, you might see a doctor or orthopedic surgeon more urgently.

We are looking for 5 patients with low back pain who want to get significantly better in the next 30 days, without cortisone shots, physical therapy, or surgery. Click this link and enter the term ‘Interested’ in the description box to learn more.

This post is meant for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.