The most common form of chronic back pain treatment is using medications that can often even mean combining over-the-counter medications with prescription drugs. Of course, before choosing a particular chronic back pain treatment it pays to check with a doctor because even when it concerns over-the-counter medications; not all of them are safe to use without first getting them approved by a doctor. Some medications can prove to be dangerous when used during pregnancies or they may react with medications that are being taken to treat other ailments.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)

A few over-the-counter medications that are often used for chronic back pain treatment include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs of which aspirin and naproxen and even ibuprofen are good examples. You can even use counter-irritants that, when applied to the patient’s skin in the forms of creams or sprays, can help in stimulating nerve endings and also provide relief from pain.

Another class of medications used in chronic back pain treatment is anticonvulsants, which though used mostly to treat seizures can also help in alleviating certain forms of nerve pain as well. You may also be prescribed anti-depressants including amitriptyline as well as desipramine that are effective in relieving pain and also in helping patients get enough sleep at night. The best part about using anti-depressants is that they can be used to change brain chemical levels in a way that causes an improvement in the patient’s mood and at the same time helps in dulling pain signals.

There are also opioids that are recommended for chronic back pain treatment and these include oxycodone, codeine and morphine as well as hydrocodone – all of which are effective in managing chronic back pain. However, you need to be forewarned that these opioids must only be taken for short durations and under direct supervision of a physician. There are also certain side effects to worry about and these include feeling drowsy, having reduced reaction times as well as not being able to make proper judgments, and worst of all, they can lead to addiction.

There are also plenty of alternative chronic back pain treatments to choose from though most people prefer taking medications. As far as lower back pain treatment goes, the majority of patients prefer going down the non-surgical treatment route in which, among other options, heat and physical therapies are often used.

You may also want to do certain exercises that are quite effective chronic back pain treatment methods, even though people that suffer from chronic back pain tend to refrain from exercising it will certainly help if you think positively and do a few exercises - if only to prevent the muscles from becoming weak as a result of inactivity.