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How do I Treat Lumbar Pain?

Anna T.
Anna T.

There are a few things you can do at home to attempt to treat your lumbar pain, which is also frequently referred to as lower back pain. Some things that might help your lumbar back pain are bed rest, anti-inflammatory medicines, and exercise. You might also benefit from the application of heat to the lumbar area. Sometimes lumbar pain resolves itself in a few days, particularly if it was caused by a pulled muscle. In the event that your lower back pain is not better after two or three days, you should probably see a doctor to make sure that it isn't caused by something more serious.

Lots of rest may be incredibly beneficial for your lumbar pain. For the first day that you start experiencing pain, you may want to just take it as easy as possible and stay in bed for most of the day with a heating pad on your lower back. You could also take anti-inflammatory medicine to help ease your pain symptoms. Drugs containing ibuprofen tend to be the most beneficial for treating lumbar pain and other back pain-related problems. If your lumbar pain was the result of something minor, such as a pulled muscle, you might wake up the next day to find your pain is mostly or completely gone.

Bed rest might help relieve lumbar pain.
Bed rest might help relieve lumbar pain.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have their lumbar pain disappear within a day or two after its onset. Even though it may be the last thing you want to do while you are in pain, exercise might actually make you feel better. You should attempt to do some minor stretching in your lower back area, because this could actually provide some relief from the stiffness and soreness that you are dealing with. It is not typically a good idea to continue to stretch if it is only causing you pain with no relief.

Improperly lifting heavy objects may cause lumbar pain.
Improperly lifting heavy objects may cause lumbar pain.

Do not delay a visit to your doctor if you are still experiencing lumbar pain after a few days. Your doctor may be able to determine the root cause of your back pain, which is essential for proper treatment. He can additionally prescribe stronger pain medicine and muscle relaxers, which should provide you with much-needed relief. Injections of steroidal drugs might also be necessary, but this is something that typically cannot be done on a regular basis because steroid drugs are associated with some unpleasant side effects when they are used often. Depending on what is causing your lumbar back pain, your doctor might recommend either physical therapy or possibly surgery to correct it.

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    • Bed rest might help relieve lumbar pain.
      By: mangostock
      Bed rest might help relieve lumbar pain.
    • Improperly lifting heavy objects may cause lumbar pain.
      By: Cyril Comtat
      Improperly lifting heavy objects may cause lumbar pain.
    • Bed rest may be recommended for some people with lumbar pain, but others will be encouraged to continue low impact exercise.
      By: april_89
      Bed rest may be recommended for some people with lumbar pain, but others will be encouraged to continue low impact exercise.
    • Ibuprofen can be effective at treating lumbar pain.
      By: Geo Martinez
      Ibuprofen can be effective at treating lumbar pain.