Low Back Pain Treatment | Chronic Pain | MedStar Health
low back pain

In most cases, people suffering from chronic low back pain are able to manage and cope with the pain through non-surgical treatment such as:

Lifestyle Changes for Low Back Pain

  • Quit smoking
  • Wear low-heeled shoes
  • Exercise (suggested exercise includes walking, low-impact aerobics, swimming, and biking on a stationary bike)
  • Sleep lying on one side
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Use good lifting, sitting, and standing postures

Medications for Low Back Pain

  • Pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen)
  • Non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g., ibuprofen)
  • Topical ointments
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Anti-depressants
  • Prescribed narcotics
  • Anti-seizure medications

Non-Surgical Treatments for Low Back Pain

  • Physical therapy
  • Massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Chiropractor

Injections

  • Epidural
  • Trigger point (for painful muscle areas)
  • Facet joint
  • Selective nerve root
  • Sacroiliac joint (where the pelvis meets the lowest part of the spine)

Radiofrequency Ablation

  • Radiofrequency ablation uses radio waves to produce heat around a nerve, destroying the nerve's ability to transmit pain

Implanted Devices

  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Intraspinal drug infusion delivers regular, predetermined doses of pain-relieving medication