Pain Treatments Offer Little Relief For Lower-Back Pain

Millions of Americans are seeking out lower-back pain relief and the two most popular treatments - potent opiod painkiller drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin and epidural steroid injections - don't give much relief from lower-back pain.

The reason you should seriously question your prescriptions is that they provide only short-term relief and may (in the case of opiod painkillers) be addictive. In fact one of every four users of opiods become dependant or begin abusing them according to Bridgett A. Martell, MD - Assistant clinical professor of medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and her colleagues in their research studies.

But her studies reveal that in fact they are really not that effective in the long-term. Placebos often work just as well.

Epidural steroid injections have become a quite popular alternative for many to ease their chronic lower back pains. These injections are traditionally used to ease the pain of childbirth. These injections however don't really work very well for lower back pain that radiates down a leg.

Epidurals give only minor, short-term relief for back pain. They won't get rid of the pain for good and heal the problem. So if you have chronic back pain lasting more than three months, what can you do?

Good doctors typically recommend exercise, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS), tricyclic antidepressants, acupuncture and electrical stimulation. A good chiropractor may also be part of a solution for you.