Home Remedies for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common complaints that bring patients into doctors’ offices. Although you should always see a doctor if your pain is severe, there are ways to relieve back pain at home.

Cold

Icing is key when you are experiencing lower back soreness and/or pain. It is also critical post-exercise to reduce inflammation and promote pain control.  If you are experiencing radiating pain into the lower extremities, continue to ice the lower back instead of the legs. Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then switch to heat.

Heat

Heat should be your go-to after a weekend warrior move gone wrong, such as over-aggressive mulching in your garden or an injury form moving furniture. Strains and pulls respond better to heat. Heat helps to calm the stressed muscle and reduce tension and can help to increase range of motion and reduce pain.  Don’t let the heating pad get too hot and don’t use it for more than an hour or so at a time.  Heat that’s too intense may hurt your skin.

Over-the-counter medications

Other back pain remedies that work fast are over-the-counter pain medication. If you’ve hurt your back, the best remedy is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, or NSAID. Common NSAIDs include Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). These medications help to stem the tide of the blood flow to the area to reduce pain.

Rest

Rest is vital when you are trying to get rid of back pain naturally. Take two or three days off from your usual activities such as going to the gym, which could make the pain worse and lead to further injury of the musculature of the back. But gentle stretching and light walking should be okay. In fact, exercise is thought to be beneficial in terms of preventing and relieving chronic low back pain.

Muscle creams and patches

Another way to cure back pain at home is to use muscle creams and patches. The medication in the patch or cream works to “confuse” the nerve endings in your back muscles. By making them feel hot or cold, they are distracted from the pain of the muscle tissue. Besides, the heat from these patches goes a long way toward comforting the muscles that have been strained or sprained. Creams may work better if your muscles are strained higher up on the back, to the side, or over a large area.

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