Everyone – male or female, young or old – has practically experienced having lower back pain at least once or twice in his/her life. This type of pain is quite common both in active and non-active individuals and should mostly be no cause for alarm. However, some people might be experiencing pain that exceeds their individual threshold of pain that they start to consider whether or not it might be time that they subject themselves for surgery.
Surgical intervention for lower back pain is quite rare, as it is always a trend among doctors to start with treatments that are the least risky or are most conservative. Surgery is an invasive procedure which poses quite some risks on the patients, and in some cases, it might only do more harm than good. So if you have been experiencing lower back pain, try doing these DIY methods first before you panic-dial on your orthopedist:
1. Alternately apply hot and cold compress on the area.
For the first 1-2 days, start with cold application. Then on the succeeding days, proceed with hot compress.
2. Take pain medications.
The most common over-the-counter drugs that could help relieve back pain are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen.
3. Take some time to rest if needed.
If you feel that the pain on your back is caused by stress or fatigue, take a day off and try to decrease the level of your physical activity. You can go out for a light jog to release stress, or engage in other relaxation activities that could help ease your mind.
If all of the above methods fail, perhaps you can call your physical therapist or chiropractor to set an appointment. And if even that would prove to be futile, consult with your primary care doctor. He will perform a physical exam and will basically be the one who’s going to tell you whether or not you would need to consult with a specialist who can further identify the cause of pain.
While lower back pain usually subsides with medication and nonsurgical methods, accompanying signs and symptoms should be considered. If pain is accompanied with any of the following, a doctor must be consulted immediately:
- Dysuria (difficulty passing urine)
- Incontinence (difficulty passing feces)
- Decrease in bladder control
- Fever
- Inflammation (swelling, redness, and tenderness)
- Weight loss that doesn’t seem to have a direct cause
If your back pain occurs along with any or all of the above symptoms, it’s highly advised that a doctor be consulted as an underlying condition needing immediate attention might be causing the pain and discomfort. The earlier the problem is addressed, the higher the chances are that it can still be prevented from worsening. There is no need to be daunted by the possibility of having to go “under the knife”, as doctors would more often than not use a more conservative approach and should surgery be deemed necessary, the outcomes are usually worth the risk. Just be sure that you entrust your case to a credible and reliable spine surgeon so that you can be assured of a smooth and safe process.
This article was written by Cedric Loiselle for Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center. If you are looking for the best Milwaukee spine surgeon, read more of Loiselle’s articles for tips and advice.
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