Back pain can be extremely uncomfortable and make your day-to-day activities much harder than normal.

Having lower back pain, one of the most common acute injuries, makes it harder to lift objects, walk around, and concentrate on the things you need to do. Luckily, managing back pain is quite simple.

Experts from the Mayo Clinic broke down some of the ways in which patients can manage their back pain and coordinate their treatment:

Therapy at home and exercise help manage back pain symptoms

Patients with lower back pain should manage their symptoms with physical therapy and other at-home remedies.

These remedies include icing the area routinely, stretching accordingly, and minimizing pressure on your back. If your back pain is minor, physical therapy at moderate frequency should help reduce pain daily.

Evaluate the severity of back pain with an urgent care visit

Most patients need to go to a nearby urgent care center to get a fast and affordable evaluation of their back pain and related injuries. Imaging services, lab tests, and other medical exams can help patients accurately determine the cause of their back pain.

Doctors and medical professionals can diagnose back pain in the following ways:

• X-rays
• MRIs and CT scans
• Blood tests
• Bone scans

Final back pain treatment varies, but medication usually is the first form of clinical treatment

After a diagnosis, a medical professional will then refer a patient to the proper treatment plan. For back pain a moderated medication treatment plan is usually the proper path for relieving back pain.

Patients are encouraged to use their medications as instructed if they are taking painkillers that may be opioid-based. Other types of medications that may be used to treat back pain include muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and even over-the-counter medications.

Ultimately, managing back pain takes a lot of time on the patient in terms of self-care. They should find a nearby medical provider to evaluate the injury, get treatment, and manage symptoms.

Most back pain issues don’t have comprehensive education for treatment unlike other health conditions. However, the patients that take the time to rest and safely medicate their pain will live a happier and healthier life.

And if you need to quickly evaluate treatment make sure to visit Instant Urgent Care! We’ll be here for your back pain needs!