When people experience chronic lower back pain, usually the first thing they do is consult with their family doctor or a chiropractor. Your family doctor acts as the quarterback for your chronic back pain treatment. Your doctor has a very good understanding of back problems but not a detailed approach like a specialist will have. If you come to your family physician with chronic back pain that persists for a while, then the first thing he will usually do to try and help you deal with the pain is prescribe pain killers for you. These are pills such as loratabs that can help you deal with the pain but are really not a very effective long term chronic back pain treatment.

At one time if someone was being tormented by back pain their chiropractor would usually recommend that a surgical procedure be performed to repair the problem. Following the surgery, the person would typically be put on bed rest for a couple of weeks, and then, if everything goes well, their back would be improved - unless it wasn't. In the past, many physicians are in agreement, there was ill-advised back surgery being performed. Most people weren't any healthier after the operation, and a lot were in worse condition than they had been previous to the operation.

Presently, reports have demonstrated that many spinal disorders, even lower back pain, will resolve itself without an operation, given rest and time. In fact, for most spinal injuries, all other alternatives should be considered subsequent to scheduling an operation on the back. Fewer than one percent of all back pain sufferers ever actually are in need of a surgical procedure for their back pain, nevertheless, four out of every five patients have back soreness at some time in their life.

Who Needs A Back Operation?

Usually, chiropractors suggest that an operation should only be an alternative if other procedures have been tried and were not effective in treating the back pain (or if the pain comes back), the pain is notably affecting a patient's daily activities, or if left alone the back condition could deteriorate into a more serious state.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Physical rehabilitation can be an excellent way to aid the back and spine in its healing process. Along with specific workout regimines, often the physical therapist will implement additional processes, such as heat or cold therapy which eases swelling and pain and muscle spasms, ultrasounds which employ sound waves to heal and promote circulation while at the same time alleviating swelling, tenderness and muscle spasms, massage, spinal traction, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) which uses a painless electrical current on particular nerves to alleviate soreness and increase movement of the back, and water therapy.

Some people find improvement by using medication to relieve their back pain. There are numerous types, some non-prescription and others that require a prescription. They include muscle relaxants, analgesics and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In a significant way, they can be able to alleviate you of that mild to moderate pain that you may be feeling.