Yes. Bed rest can slow the healing process and make your muscles weaker, tighter, and more painful. Moving your body gently is one of the best ways to manage back pain. Avoid activities that make your pain worse.

Sometimes, and it’s worth a try. Try using a cold pack (or a bag of frozen peas) at the first sign of a backache. Ice helps to stop muscle spasms, reduce inflammation, and calm the nerves sending pain signals to your brain. You can switch between a cold pack and a heating pad if you find it helpful.

Use a damp towel between your skin and the cold pack. Don’t use a cold pack for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

Sometimes, but try ice first. Heat might make inflammation worse at first. If ice doesn’t help, you can try heat. Use a heating pad, heated blankets, or even a hot shower.

Don’t use a heating pad for more than 15 to 20 minutes or fall asleep while using one.

Sometimes, and the benefits usually outweigh the risks. These medicines help reduce pain and swelling. These can be hard on your stomach, so it helps to eat something when you take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

Sometimes, and the benefits usually outweigh the risks. This drug helps to reduce pain, but not inflammation. It’s also usually gentler on your stomach than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

Sometimes. Your doctor may recommend a prescription-only muscle relaxant if other treatments have not helped you. Drowsiness is a common side effect.

There isn’t enough research to show that massage helps back pain. The risks are low, so it is generally safe to try.

Generally safe, but hasn’t proven to be better than other less costly treatments. A trained spinal care specialist such as a physical therapist, chiropractor, osteopathic physician or physician who specializes in musculoskeletal medicine moves joints in your back for you.

Generally not helpful for back pain lasting less than 3 months. They are prescribed only for a short period of time because they have risks of side effects, such as drowsiness and the potential for addiction.

Rarely used because injections are not helpful for back pain lasting fewer than 3 months. A doctor would use a needle to inject pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Research has not shown these to help people with low back pain. Only use one if a doctor or therapist recommends it.

Only a very small number of people with low back pain need surgery. It may be necessary if you have cancer or a broken bone. For the majority of cases, it should only be considered after other treatments have failed.

All of these therapies involve applying energy to the skin’s surface. None have been proven to be effective, particularly during the first 4-6 weeks of back pain.

No. Traction has not proven to help people in the first 4-6 weeks of back pain.

Not for more than a day or two. Bed rest is less effective at reducing pain and improving function at 3-12 weeks than advice to staying active. Resting too long can also lead to stiff joints and weaker muscles.