People very often react one of two ways to sudden back pain; they either try to ignore it, hoping it will just go away, or they reach for their favourite painkillers. Though drugs may provide an almost immediate alleviation of pain, it must be recognised that dosing up is not actually going to fix anything. As long as you see them only as a short term aid to inhibit pain, relax the muscles and reduce inflammation, then they can be very useful - especially if they help you get a bit of sleep. The fixing, however, will be the result of a series of longer term changes you'll need to set in place.
If you're facing pain right now there are a number of things you can do immediately to bring some relief.
1. Pain killers
This course of action can be valuable in the short term. Pain can be completely immobilising and the removal of at least the worst of the pain can enable the patient to simply get around a bit more. Movement itself is crucial if we're to seeking to recover.
Doctors, of course, are primarily trained to prescribe the most appropriate drugs to treat specific conditions. So a doctor may recommend certain pain killers for symptoms of acute back pain.
Some of the main Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug brands (NDSAIDS) include: Motrin®, Naprosyn®, Celebrex®, Relafen®, Dolobid®, Diflunisal®, Indocin®, Voltaren® and Ibuprofen®. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) can also act as a simple 'pain-blocker' and can usually be taken alongside NSAIDs.
Be aware NSAIDs can be a bit harsh on the stomach, so can be taken with milky drink that will help line the stomach wall. If you've ever had stomach ulcers or any kind of gastrointestinal bleeding in the past, make sure you check things first with your GP.
For a more natural approach that avoids the risk of stomach upset or other side effects, you may want to try the herb Boswellia. Boswellia (frankincense) has been used for centuries in the East as an anti-inflammatory and is reported to be able to provide the same type of pain relief as over the counter NSAIDs.
2. Muscle relaxants
Another class of drug that can help are the muscle relaxants. When the safety of the spinal cord is in jeopardy, the muscles will often go into spasm; 'clamping' vertebrae together in order to protect it. Acute pains will usually occur when this action squeezes a nerve.
Muscle relaxants do the job of simply causing the muscles to loosen and relieve the pressure from the trapped nerve. Some of the main brands include: SOMA® (Carisoprodol), Flexeril®, Robaxin®, Valium® and Diazepam®.
Like pain-killers, these drugs must not be viewed as a long term option. Be aware, also, that your unconscious mind 'told' these muscles to spasm for a good reason and you must seek to discover the underlying cause to ensure you do not compromise your back health in the same way again.
3. Ice
Inflamed areas can be effectively cooled with ice to provide some temporary relief. You'll ideally use an ice pack that is flexible enough to curve around the area involved. Whilst there are specialist products on the market for this purpose, one I've used was really for keeping food cold and comprised of multiple 'pockets' of blue liquid that made it easy to shape as required. When I needed this regularly, I kept several ready in the freezer so it would be easy to apply 2 or 3 times a day.
4. Heat
First it is important to recognise that you should not use heat when there's any residual inflammation - as it will only make it worse. Heat can be used once the inflammation has subsided, usually after the first 2-3 days, but not before. There are various products on the market that can provide localised heat. The intention of these is to help the muscles relax. So if you have spasming muscles that are not actually inflamed, by all means try gently warming the area with a professional product (heat wraps, infrared pads, etc) or do it yourself by soaking in a warm bath or using a hot water bottle if that's easier to get hold of.
I've also heard that it can be beneficial to alternate heat and ice about every hour.
5. TENS Unit
I've not used one of these myself, though I've had experience of attaching one to my wife on numerous occasion in the final weeks of her pregnancies. It uses a variable electric current is designed to interrupt the pain-signals before they reach the brain. It does work, at least in part but isn't any good for very serious pain.
6. Inversion aids
Inversion aids take your entire body weight as you lie on your back and tilt your body so that your feet are raised - to varying degrees - above your head. This reverses the usual compression effect of gravity and can be a great help.
This is not something you can usually reach for the first time pain hits, of course, but can be useful as on ongoing therapy aid and, if you're mobile enough to get yourself into position, may provide you with some immediate relief. It's best not to try this soon after eating; you need to let gravity work as designed with your digestive system whilst it's in full swing!
If you're interested in this, do check the safety issues before committing to buy as there are certain health conditions that this exercise of inverting your body this way will actually make worse.
Finally, another way of reducing spinal compression is simply finding ways of minimising the loads you carry each day - your back has to manage any weights you pick up in your hands or attach to your back, of course.
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