What helps with back pain?

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Unless there are obvious organic causes, like a herniated disc, fracture, severe osteoporosis, tumour metastases, or specific infectious diseases, low back pain or back pain is typically not life-threatening and does not require special treatment. However, a good 80 percent are “non-specific” or “non-specific” back pain, in which a dangerous triggering cause cannot be primarily identified. In these cases, doctors should not “overtreat”.
Sick leave is also not advisable; those affected should not be forced into counterproductive inactivity through bed rest. Instead, conventional, conservative measures should be used. “Educating patients about the non-threatening nature of their pain and the fact that physical activity can alleviate it” is the view of Richard Crevenna, who leads the University Clinic for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Occupational Medicine at Vienna General Hospital and Med Uni Vienna.

The measures for treating back pain include information, pain therapy with medication, movement and training therapy, as well as heat applications, which usually lead to success within six weeks. It is advised to get a professional diagnosis if there is still no improvement after this period.

Interdisciplinary pain medicine” sees the chronification of back pain as the result of biopsychosocial factors. It aims to provide comprehensive treatment for those affected. This means improving control over stress thresholds and fortifying one’s body awareness, coordination, exercise capacity, and fitness. Psychotherapeutic interventions are aimed at reducing emotional impairment.
What you can do for acute pain
And what can you do for yourself in an acute situation? Simple exercises to relax the muscles can be a first step. It can also be helpful to apply hot water bottles or anything similar to the affected areas. If there is no improvement within a week despite these attempts, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor.

Dietary adjustments can also have a positive effect on back health. Eating predominantly acidic and sugary foods has a negative effect on our metabolic environment. The body is then more susceptible to irritation and inflammation. Getting enough calcium in your diet is especially important for your back health. One way to do this is by eating natural yoghurt.

The most important thing, however, is prevention: “If you look after your back before complaints arise, you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary suffering. Preventive thinking always means active action,” says orthopaedic surgeon Matthias Manke. Because if you want to keep your back healthy, there’s no getting around exercise.