Back pain is the third most common reason for patient visits to physicians' offices, and affects up to 80% of the adult population at some time. The precise cause of low back pain is poorly understood and only 10-20% of all patients have their pain attributed to an accepted, definable diagnosis. In the majority of cases low back pain tends to disappear with time. In about 90% of patients symptoms resolve within 3 months of onset.
True low back pain is defined as pain located between the lower rib cage and the buttocks. This pain may occasionally extend down to the level of the knee but not beyond. If back pain is associated with numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs then it is possible that irritation of neurologic structures is present (see herniated disc, spinal stenosis). Leg pain with symptoms that extend to the feet is thus usually a separate condition from back pain and may require a different treatment program than for back pain alone.
Conservative treatment (non-operative) for back and leg pain varies greatly depending upon the cause and severity of the pain. There are a number of common treatment approaches available including the following:
Medications — Pain Management
This is a brief outline of common medications that are prescribed by a physician as part of the treatment in back or leg pain. A thorough evaluation and discussions with a physician are necessary to properly guide treatment. It is important to note that any medication can lead to allergic reactions or side effects, this must be discussed in detail with the prescribing physician and pharmacist.
See a listing in the Medication Index
Anti-inflammatories - this is a group of medications which specifically aim to decrease inflammation in tissues, they can be quite effective in mild and moderate pain. Side effects (aside from allergic reactions) may include: stomach upset, gastritis, ulcer problems, kidney and liver problems.
Analgesics - this group of medications aims at reducing the sensation of pain without any specific action at the source of the pain. In a sense, this covers, or dampens the pain feeling but does not actually treat the site of the problem.
Muscle relaxants - these medications aim to loosen the tension and irritability of muscle tissue. By relaxing a very tense muscle, the pain due to spasm and cramping can be reduced. Some patients become very drowsy with these medications.
Combination drugs - these combine different types of medications to offer, for example, pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects.
Narcotics - these are pain medications, which are quite strong, and act on the brain and spinal cord to decrease the sensation of pain. Due to addiction potential and risks of overdosage, these medications are restricted in use and require special prescriptions from a physician.
Antidepressants - in some cases mild doses of antidepressant medication may offer added relief from chronic pain and nerve related pain.
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