In most cases, people suffering from chronic low back pain are able to manage and cope with the pain through non-surgical treatment such as:
Lifestyle Changes for Low Back Pain
- Quit smoking
- Wear low-heeled shoes
- Exercise (suggested exercise includes walking, low-impact aerobics, swimming and biking on a stationary bike)
- Sleep lying on one side
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Use good lifting, sitting and standing postures
Medications for Low Back Pain
- Pain relievers (i.e. acetaminophen)
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g. ibuprofen)
- Topical ointments
- Muscle relaxants
- Anti-depressants
- Prescribed narcotics
- Anti-seizure medications
Non-Surgical Treatments for Low Back Pain
- Physical Therapy
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractor
Injections
- Epidural
- Trigger point (for painful muscle areas)
- Facet joint
- Selective nerve root
- Sacroiliac joint (where the pelvis meets the lowest part of the spine)
Radiofrequency Ablation
- Radiofrequency ablation uses radio waves to produce heat around a nerve, destroying the nerve's ability to transmit pain
Implanted Devices
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Intraspinal drug infusion delivers regular, predetermined doses of pain-relieving medication