Dealing with body aches and pains is never enjoyable. However, the most severe discomfort may be in the lower back. In fact, it's one of the most common reasons individuals schedule doctor's appointments and take time off from work.

Fortunately, there are numerous methods to obtain pain relief with the greatest lower back pain treatment choices.

1. Reach for anti-inflammatory drugs

Even if you practice patience, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can assist relieve the back discomfort you're dealing with. The research underpinning pharmaceutical guidelines for lower back pain suggests that these may provide somewhat greater relief than acetaminophen (Tylenol).

2. Find relief through ice and heat

Get that bag of frozen peas (or a cold pack, if you want to get fancy) during the first 48 hours after the pain begins, and use it for 20 minutes per session, several times per day. After those two days, use a heating pad at 20-minute intervals instead.

Localized cooling closes capillaries and lowers blood flow to the area, which alleviates edema. Cold also inhibits your nerves' ability to transmit pain impulses. Heat, on the other hand, relaxes tense muscles and improves circulation, bringing more oxygen to the rescue.

3. Look into getting a new mattress

You may be astonished to learn that the typical mattress lasts less than ten years. If your mattress is drooping severely or is more than six to eight years old, I would consider purchasing a new one.

4. Do gentle stretches

Gentle stretches, walking, and even standing up at your desk can assist in stabilizing your spine and prevent muscular imbalances. And, despite the difficulty of performing a downward-facing dog with a poor back, yoga can also benefit you.

5. Focus on posture

While lower back troubles can certainly contribute to bad posture, poor posture can also cause discomfort.

6. Ask about prescription medications

If your back pain hasn't gone away after four to six weeks, contact your doctor. He or she will evaluate your back and ask you to sit, stand, bend, walk, and elevate your legs to see how your discomfort is limiting your mobility. You'll probably be asked to score your discomfort on a scale of one to ten, and they may do imaging tests such as an X-ray or an MRI. Then they may prescribe muscle relaxants or topical pain relievers.

7. Consider physical therapy

A physical therapist will teach you stretches to help manage your back pain, as well as exercises to correct any imbalances that may have caused the discomfort in the first place. Depending on the origin and degree of your back pain, your PT may use additional treatment modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and active-release therapy.

8. Find out if injection-based treatments are right for you

If physical therapy and prescription drugs aren't working for you, steroid injections could be an alternative. There are several sorts of injections, but they all coat the area of the spine where the nerves are. It does not address the basis of the problem, but it provides some respite.

9. Experiment with acupuncture

Acupuncture may provide more relief than drugs. This Chinese medicine classic can alleviate symptoms of lower back pain more effectively than simulated therapies and, in certain situations, NSAIDs. The needles appear to alter the way your nerves behave, potentially reducing inflammation around joints.

10. Talk to your doctor about surgery

Back pain can be extremely aggravating, and surgery may appear to be the quickest and easiest way to find relief. However, many people do not require surgery to treat lower back discomfort.

If your back pain is musculoskeletal, surgery is not required; but, if it is a pinched nerve caused by a disc herniation or something else, surgery may be necessary. However, 85 to 90% of those people will not require surgery after completing a six-to-eight-week course of treatment that includes physical therapy and activity adjustment.

However, if you try the remedies listed above and don't see any relief or are still in pain, consult your doctor about an appointment with a pain management specialist, as more specific tests or treatments may be required to determine the reason.