''How to Treat Back Pain at Home''

Keeping your back happy

Back pain can interrupt your day or interfere with your plans. In fact, there’s an 84 percent chance that you will develop low back pain in your lifetime. But back pain isn’t always something you can ignore or wait for it to resolve on its own. Thankfully, there are several ways to treat back pain at home. These remedies include everything from herbs to massages. Keep reading to see how you can ease your back pain.

Try oils and ointments to ease pain

There are plenty of pain rubs and ointments to help ease pain by blocking the sensation. For example, creams with capsaicin can desensitize the pain channels in the affected area. Other ingredients you can look for in topical creams include:

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• ketoprofen (Diractin)
• ibuprofen (Nurofen or Dolgit)
• diclofenac (Voltaren)
• lidocaine (Lidoderm)
• cayenne
• comfrey
• Brazilian arnica

Research suggests that topical medications may be just as effective as oral ones. Many of them worked significantly better than placebo. These medications can come in the form of gels, creams, patches, and more. One study also saw decrease in pain when people applied lavender essential oil or ointments prepared with cayenne peppers with acupressure.

Some other brand standards include Icy Hot or Tiger Balm. The effectiveness and side effects of each brand can vary from user to user. You may experience skin irritation with certain brands. Be sure to patch test (apply a small amount and wait 24 hours to see if you experience any side effects) before doing a complete application.

Massage can help sore or tense muscle

Gently massaging a sore or tense muscle is one of the most effective ways to loosen it up and relieve pain. One study found that massage therapy along with traditional treatment:

• reduces back pain
• improves back function
• lessens use of anti-inflammatory medications
• minimizes days in bed

They also found no difference between relaxation massages and structural massages, although structural massages tend to be more expensive.

Consider asking your partner or a close friend for a massage, if cost is an issue. You can also ask them to use medicated ointment for extra pain relief.