Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors. It may occur because of an accident, a simple muscle strain on the back, or an even more serious condition such as a ruptured or slipped disc. Back pain treatment varies according to the cause, other accompanying symptoms, and the severity of pain felt by the patient.

Initial care for a back pain is done at home. This is because initially, an occurrence of back pain is expected to go away after some time, usually a day to a month. The different methods for back pain relief to be done at home include massages and exercises. Back massages and exercises are one of the most popular back pain treatments. These interventions provide immediate relief from the pain. However, if the back exercises are done improperly, the back pain may worsen. Another is bed rest. If the back pain is caused by muscle straining from prolonged sitting, standing or bending, a massage and bed rest are great ways to relieve the pain.

Another back pain treatment is the use of hot and cold applications. Applying alternate warm and cold compress over the painful area on the back will also relieve the pain. It is possible because of the effect of the hot and cold temperature on the nerves that helps in numbing the area and eventually, pain relief.

Medications to be used as a back pain treatment include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These are effective medications to control frequent back pain. Acetaminophen is an analgesic while ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Both of these produce pain-relieving effects but have different side effects. Both can be taken at the same time but taking of more than one NSAID should be given careful consideration, as it will result to adverse drug effects.

Another effective back pain treatment is acupuncture. This is recommended if the back pain felt occurs daily and is persistent. The science behind acupuncture being a pain relief method is that the body's reaction from the acupuncture needles allows sending signals for the body to release its natural pain relieving substances and activating the nervous system to calm the nerves that eventually lead to pain relief. Aside from the naturally occurring opioids, certain neurochemicals and hormones are also released which contributes to the body's natural pain relieving capability.

Behavioral therapies are also effective as back pain treatment. These therapies function as such because the patient is able to divert his attention from the pain and relax through the different therapies. An example of an effective therapy for back pain relief is music therapy.

The treatments mentioned above are effective for relief of mild to moderate back pain but if the pain is severe, it may be caused by a serious condition. A ruptured or slipped disc can cause excruciating pain for patients. In this case, medical attention is needed. If physical therapy and medications are not enough to relieve the pain, the physician may suggest a cervical disc operation for the treatment of the condition.