Treatment
Acute back or body pain usually stops on its own or with self-treatment. Here are some suggestions for things you can do to treat your back or body pain:
- Get plenty of rest, but don't stop moving. Especially with back pain, prolonged bed rest can actually make the condition worse. Generally, light activity can help speed recovery.
- Cold/heat treatment—apply ice or a cold compress to the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times a day until spasms and acute pain subside. Then apply warm, moist heat (such as hot compresses or warm baths) to loosen tight muscles.
- Pain relievers—over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or aspirin can be effective treatments for individuals with back and body pain. Excedrin® Back & Body fights pain in two ways—combining both a pain reliever (acetaminophen) and a pain blocker that works at the site of pain (buffered aspirin) in one powerful medicine.
Talk to your doctor when pain is severe, persistent, or does not respond to self-treatment, He or she may recommend any number of treatments, including:
- Local anesthetic
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Cortisone injection
- Prescription medication
- Surgery
Sometimes, medication is more effective in treating back and body pain when combined with other forms of treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your pain and how to treat it, consult your doctor.
Learn more:
» Back & Body Pain Center Main
» About Back & Body Pain
» Causes
» Prevention
» Excedrin Back & Body
Sources
U.S. National Institutes of Health
WebMD.com
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MayoClinic.com
ClevelandClinic.org
