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 FEBRUARY 28, 2007 Steroid Injections of Little Use for Lower Back Pain If you have lower back pain that shoots down your leg, steroid injections are of little use to relieve the pain, say new guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology. According to the guidelines, epidural steroid injections provide only limited pain relief between 2 and 6 weeks after the injection and do not help "buy time" to avoid surgery, and, therefore, are not recommended. If you have back spasms and leg pain, these are signs of a herniated disk, and you should have your doctor check them out. About 80% of people with these classic symptoms of a herniated disk respond within 6 weeks to bed rest and pain medication. For a simple backache, to ease the pain on your own, try: --Back relaxation exercises, which involve gentle stretching to relax back muscles, lengthen the spine, and relieve compression of the vertebrae. --Rest. Lying down takes pressure off the spine and usually lessens pain. --Ice. After a sudden back injury, immediately applying ice can relieve pain and reduce internal bleeding and swelling. --Heat. It's best to wait 48 hours after an acute back injury before you apply heat. --Over-the-counter medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin may help alleviate discomfort and reduce inflammation. If these self-treatments don't ease the pain after a few days, see your doctor, who may suggest prescription NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or opiates. |
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