New Lower Back Pain Study Supports Existing Thinking Concerning Lower Back Pain Management

A new study coming out of Australia concludes that people suffering from lower back often misidentify what caused the pain. According to the study, when asked by a doctor, most of the patients surveyed identified a specific event on a specific day that they felt triggered the back pain. The survey suggests that many patients misidentify the cause of the lower back pain because lower back pain can start days or weeks after the event that caused the pain.

Lower Back Pain May Be Caused by Something Other Than Strenuous Activity

According to the survey, people most often attributed lower back pain to strenuous activity, such as lifting or heavy exercise. The patients that were part of the study suffered from a severe pain flare up in their lower back. They reported experiencing strenuous activity during the immediate time prior to the flare up; and, in the opinions of the originators of the study, falsely attributed the flare up to this trigger.

Knowing the Cause Doesn’t Help With Pain Management

The thrust of the study revolves around the necessity for pinpointing the cause of the back pain. The study concluded that causation may help with preventing further lower back pain, but it does not aid in the pain management of lower back pain.

Lower back pain management is not about preventing. It’s about treating existing lower back pain. Lower back pain management options vary from things that you can do at home to services provided by a healthcare professional. As with all pain management plans, you need to use the plan that works best for you with the resources that you have available to you.

At Home Lower Back Pain Management

There are a variety of things you can do to manage your lower back pain at home. For example, you can sleep with a pillow between your knees to relieve the pressure off of your lower back. If you sleep on your back, place the pillow under your knees.

There are several other measures you can also take to manage your lower back pain. You can take over the counter pain medication, such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. You could also try ice or heat. In addition to these suggestions, you could also induce the release of endorphins. To do this, you could try massage therapy, meditation, eating dark chocolate, or creating a happy mood by doing something that you enjoy.

Professional Pain Management for the Lower Back

If the pain is severe, you might want to consider seeking help from a healthcare professional. Your healthcare provider might suggest pain killers if your pain is acute. Another option is an epidural steroid injection.If your lower back pain becomes persists, your healthcare provider may suggest that tests be performed to determine why your lower back is hurting. In addition to pain killers, physical therapy may be suggested.

The Basics of Lower Back Pain Management

The purpose of pain management for the lower back is to alleviate the pain that you feel while your lower back heals. While knowing the cause of the back pain may help in preventing further lower back pain and for treating specific conditions that cause lower back pain, it doesn’t help with pain management. What does help is knowing the options that are available to you, and choosing the option that is best for you.