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Severe Backache Home Remedies
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Back pain may be one of the most pervasive ailments in America. Two-thirds of American adults will experience back pain at some time in their lives. As a result, back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under age 45. Acute pain comes on suddenly and intensely. It's the kind you usually experience from doing something that you shouldn't be doing or from doing it the wrong way. The pain can come from sprains, strains, or pulls of muscles in your back. It may hurt like crazy for several days, but doctors say that you can be pain-free without any lasting effects by following these self-help tips.
When to call a doctor
When does your back need medical backup? When you experience any of the following:
• Back pain that comes on suddenly for no apparent reason
• Back pain that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, stomach cramps, chest pain, or difficulty breathing
• An acute attack that lasts for more than 2 or 3 days without any pain relief
• Chronic pain that lasts more than 2 weeks without relief
• Back pain that radiates down your leg to your knee or foot
You shouldn't always assume that back pain is a sign that something is wrong with just your back, notes Milton Fried, M.D. It could be a sign of some other disorder.
Panel of Advisors
Edward Abraham, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor of orthopedics at the University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine, and has a practice in Santa Ana. He originated the concept for outpatient back therapy in the United States.
Richard A. Deyo, M.D., is a professor of medicine and health services and director of the Center for Cost and Outcomes Research at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Milton Fried, M.D., is the founder and director of the Milton Fried Medical Clinic in Atlanta. He also holds degrees in chiropractic and physical therapy.
David Lehrman, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital and the Miami Heart Institute in Miami Beach, Florida.
Ronald Melzack, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of psychology at McGill University in Montreal.
Roger Minkow, M.D., is an ergonomic consultant in Petaluma, California.
Dennis Turk, Ph.D., is the John and Emma Bonica professor of anesthesiology and pain research at the University of Washington in Seattle.
If You Do Just One Thing
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Remedies
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Roll out of bed
Each morning, when you get out of bed, doctors advise that you roll out—carefully and slowly.
Legs up the wall
I always do legs up the wall when my back goes out, which it does ever two years or so. You lie on the floor with your butt near the wall and your legs going straight up the wall above your head.
If you must go to bed, keep it short
"Most people think that a week of bed rest will take away the pain," says back expert David Lehrman, M.D.
Put your pain on ice
The best way to cool down an acute flare-up is with ice, says pain researcher Ronald Melzack, Ph.D. It helps reduce swelling and the strain on your back muscles.
Try some heat relief
After the first day or two of ice, physicians recommend that you switch to heat, says Milton Fried, M.D. Take a soft towel and put it in a basin of very warm water.
Use heat and cold
For those of you who can't make up your mind which feels better, it's okay to use both methods, says Edward Abraham, M.D. It may even have an added bonus.
Stretch to smooth a spasm
Stretching a sore back will actually enhance the healing process, says Dr. Lehrman, by helping the muscle "calm down" sooner than by just waiting for it to calm down on its own.
Exercise your pain away
Exercise may be the last thing you want to think about when your back aches, but specialists say that exercise is the best thing going for chronic back pain.
Take a new car for a "test-sit."
While there are many causes for back pain, most people have what is called mechanical back pain, or pain related to sitting, standing, lifting, or bending, says Roger Minkow, M.D., who designs seats for airplane and automobile manufacturers.
Inflate a pillow
If you are not in the market for a new car, a blow-up cushion is a cheap fix for mechanical back pain, says Dr. Minkow.
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Inflate a pillow
Put your pain on ice
Take a new car for a "test-sit."