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Vertebrae, disks, joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves&mdash;with so many intricate parts, it's no wonder things sometimes go awry in your back and cause pain. From sprains and strains to bulging disks, back pain is an all-too-common problem.
Though back pain usually improves in a few weeks, those few weeks can feel like an eternity. Fortunately, several methods&mdash;like stretching, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and chiropractic care&mdash;can help you find relief. 
Exercise and stretching. Careful exercise can help stabilize and support your back by strengthening muscles in the back and abdomen. In fact, exercise may be the most effective way to hasten your recovery from low-back pain, notes the <a href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=ninds" target="_blank" shape="rect">National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke</a>&nbsp;(NINDS). 
In addition, doing gentle stretches may relieve stiffness and improve your range of motion. 
It's best to talk to your doctor before exercising or stretching when you have back pain. Your doctor can recommend specific exercises based on your particular back problem. Or you may be told not to exercise at all, as some back problems may be aggravated rather than helped by the activity. 
Medications. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications that may help back pain, including pain relievers to ease the ache and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation. 
Heat and cold treatments. You can try applying heat or cold to the affected part of your back. Use cold compresses or ice packs for up to 20&nbsp;minutes, several times a day, for the first two or three days after the injury. After that, switch to heat packs (or a hot shower, bath or heating pad) for brief periods of time. 
Heat and cold treatments are not scientifically proven to work, notes the NINDS, but they might ease pain, relieve muscle spasms, lessen inflammation and make moving easier. 
Braces. Some experts believe that using a corset-type brace may help you feel more comfortable and stable. Others think that using a brace leads to more back problems because the brace keeps you from using your back muscles, causing them to get weaker. Ask your doctor's advice before you buy or use a brace. 
Injections. A variety of injections can be used, based on the location and source of your back pain. Examples include steroid injections to reduce inflammation and local anesthetic injections to block pain. Injections can be given in various locations in your back or spine, including into the muscle, around nerves or into a disk. 
Physical therapy. Physical therapists are movement experts who treat pain through movement and exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. According to the <a href="https://www.moveforwardpt.com/LowBackPain" target="_blank">American Physical Therapy Association</a>, physical therapy is a cost effective first choice in an era when all too often back pain is over-treated with narcotics or unhelpful imaging scans that lead to higher costs. 
 
Chiropractic care. The <a href="https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Back-Pain-Prevention" target="_blank">American Chiropractic Association</a> encourages people to seek out chiropractic care as an alternative to surgery because it is less risky and more affordable. Chiropractic care is based on an in-depth understanding of the spine and how it works with the nervous system. When there are misalignments in the spinal column, nerves can become pinched. By using adjustment techniques, chiropractic care is able to address the underlying cause of pain. Your health plan has chiropractic care benefits.&nbsp; See your benefit book for details on covered treatments.&nbsp;
Work with your doctor
Occasionally, conservative treatments don't provide relief and surgery is needed. Work with your doctor to find the best treatment for your back pain.
reviewed 10/8/2018

Nonsurgical treatments for back pain

Help your back feel better with one or more of these pain-relieving methods.