Ask anybody who’s “been there, done that;” back pain is never any fun. In fact, it often seems that when your back hurts, everything else hurts as well. This can be especially true in the case of lower back pain, which can radiate around to your abdominal area and down into your legs. Lower back pain can be the result of an entire host of causes, including lifting something that is too heavy, a poor quality mattress or bad posture. This type of back pain can easily become chronic in nature, leading to mental challenges as well as physical ones. After all, it is downright tough to face the world with a positive attitude when your back hurts. The good news is that there are a number of choices in lower back pain remedies that can get you back on the road to healthier, pain free days.

Topical Relief

Lower back pain remedies in the form of topical relief can consist of ice and heat packs applied to the area, or the use of creams that are designed to relieve the pain. When it comes to applying hot and cold packs, there is no hard and fast rule as to which one works better. The bottom line is that you should use whichever choice works best for you. Keep in mind that you should never use a heating pad on its hottest setting, or apply ice directly to your skin since injury can result. Another topical lower back pain remedy is the use of deep heating rubs. While this lower back pain remedy has not been scientifically proven to bring relief, some folks will swear by this method. Another topical agent that has been used is capsaicin cream. Capsaicin is the active ingredient found in chili peppers. As you can imagine, this cream will offer a burning sensation when applied, but it will also offer analgesic relief from back pain.

Medications

Over the counter medications can be particularly effective as a lower back pain remedy. Try ibuprofen, since it will offer relief from inflammation as well as pain. However, acetaminophen has been proven to be just as effective in reducing pain as ibuprofen is, and is safer for some people to take. If you are unsure about which pain medicine is best for you, you can talk to your doctor. If the over the counter medicines don’t take the edge off of your back pain, your doctor can prescribe higher strength medications as well. Most doctors will agree that it is best to take a pain reliever and remain active, rather than heading to bed for your lower back pain remedy. While a day or two of bed rest may be okay, any more than that will probably be counterproductive to your healing program. It is best to seek other types of lower back pain remedies that will reduce pain and get you on the road to better health quickly and effectively.