Lower back pain is a common complaint among adults, with nearly 65 million people in the U.S. have recently experienced some form of back discomfort. While there are numerous potential causes for the discomfort, the most common are strains in the muscles and ligaments, bulging or ruptured discs, arthritis, and osteoporosis. The best treatment for your back pain will ultimately depend on its underlying cause, but here are a few options your healthcare team may recommend.

Home Remedies

In some cases, back pain will improve over time with low-impact activity, gentle stretching, moves to strengthen the back muscles, and treatment such as hot and cold therapy. If these remedies don’t work, however, your doctor may prescribe other therapies.

Medications

A number of medications can help alleviate persistent back pain. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium may be advised first. Topical pain relievers such as ointments may …