DIETARY GUIDELINES
• Avoid eating large meals. Consuming a lot of food at one time causes the digestive system to go into overdrive, which makes your back more vulnerable.
• Eat a diet that is high in fiber. A good, well-balanced diet keeps the bowels regular. Constipation aggravates lower back pain.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
• A doctor is likely to recommend painkillers to make you more comfortable. There are different classes of pain medication that may be used. If the pain is not too severe, acetaminophen (Tylenol, Datril, and others) may be sufficient. If not, do not take more than the recommended dosage in an attempt to get relief, but try a different medication. While acetaminophen is generally considered quite safe in recommended doses, taking too much can cause liver damage.
• When the body is injured, its natural response is to send more blood and fluids to the area, and to sensitize the nerves there. The result is pain and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decrease this response. This class of drug includes aspirin (Bayer, Ecotrin, and others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, and others), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn), and sulindac (Clinoril). Some of these drugs are available over the counter, others by prescription. All of them have the potential to cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, liver or kidney damage, and gastrointestinal irritation, particularly with long-term use.
• For severe, incapacitating pain, a narcotic such as codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone (all sold under many brand names, often combined with acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen) or meperidine (Demerol) may be prescribed. These are powerful drugs that block the body’s perception of pain. Possible side effects include drowsiness, nausea, constipation, dizziness, itching, and low blood pressure. In addition, with all of these drugs, there is a tendency to develop tolerance-a situation in which stronger and stronger doses are required to achieve the same effect-as well as physical dependence.
• Muscle relaxants, like carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxazone (Parafon), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and methocarbamol (Robaxin), are sometimes prescribed to interrupt the painful spasms that occur with strained muscles. Potential side effects of these drugs include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and blurred vision. There is also a fairly high potential for abuse with these medications.
• Physical therapy may be worth trying, if your health insurance policy provides coverage for it.
• Surgery is not appropriate for muscular or other soft tissue injuries, but is reserved for cases of true damage to the disks or vertebrae.
