Patient education: Low back pain – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is low back pain? — Low back pain is pain or discomfort in the lower part of your back. Many people have low back pain at some point, and it most often gets better on its own. Many different things can cause low back pain. Most of the time, doctors do not know the exact cause.

Back pain can happen if you strain a muscle. This is often what has happened when a person "throws out" their back. This refers to pain that starts suddenly after physical activity, like lifting something heavy or bending the back.

Back pain can also happen if you have (figure 1):

●Damaged, bulging, or torn discs

●Arthritis affecting the joints of the spine

●Bony growths on the vertebrae that crowd nearby nerves

●A "compression fracture" due to osteoporosis (a condition that makes your bones weak)

●A vertebra out of place

●Narrowing in the spinal canal

●A tumor or infection (but this is very rare)

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Use heat on your back for short periods of time, if it helps with pain. Put a heating pad (on the low setting) on your back for 20 minutes at a time a few times each day. Never go to sleep with heat on your back.

●Try to stay as active as you can without causing too much pain, if your doctor or nurse said that it is OK. If your pain is severe, you might need to rest for a day or 2. But it's important to get back to walking and moving as soon as possible. Try to keep doing your normal daily activities. Get up and move around gently during the day as you are able.

●Slowly start to increase your activity level as you are able to. If something causes your pain to come back or get worse, stop and go back to doing easier activities that did not hurt.

●Avoid sitting or standing in 1 position for a long time. You might want to sleep with a pillow under or between your knees if this eases your pain.

●Take a medicine like ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (brand name: Aleve) for pain, if needed. These are nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs ("NSAIDs"). They might work better than acetaminophen for low back pain.

●Talk to your doctor or nurse before trying any of the following. These treatments might help you feel better for a little while:

•Spinal manipulation – This is when a chiropractor, physical therapist, or other professional moves or "adjusts" the joints of your back.

•Acupuncture – This is when someone who knows traditional Chinese medicine inserts tiny needles through your skin to block pain signals.

•Massage therapy – The massage therapist manipulates your muscles and soft tissues to decrease muscle tension and increase relaxation.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go. The doctor might suggest that you see a physical therapist to learn exercises to help with your back pain.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

●You are unable to walk, or cannot control your bowels or bladder.

●You develop a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or night sweats.

Call your doctor for advice if:

●Your legs are numb, weak, or tingly.

●Your pain is getting worse, even with medicines and rest.

●You develop a new rash.

More on this topic

Patient education: Low back pain in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Vertebral compression fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Scoliosis (The Basics)
Patient education: Muscle strain (The Basics)
Patient education: Cauda equina syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Do I need an X-ray (or other test) for low back pain? (The Basics)
Patient education: Radiculopathy of the neck and back (including sciatica) (The Basics)
Patient education: Herniated disc (The Basics)
Patient education: Spinal stenosis (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic pain (The Basics)

Patient education: Low back pain in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Back pain in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (Beyond the Basics)