Treatment Options
There are a range of medications, including Cymbalta, used to manage chronic low back pain.
Low back pain that continues for more than 3 months is termed chronic low back pain. If your doctor determines you have chronic low back pain, he or she may recommend a variety of treatment options for you. These options include:
- Medications
There are a range of medications, including Cymbalta, used to manage chronic low back pain. Cymbalta is a non-narcotic pain reliever and is available only by prescription.
Did you know that your body has a natural pain-suppressing system that can help regulate the amount of pain you feel? While the exact way that Cymbalta works is unknown, it is believed to help reduce chronic low back pain by enhancing your body's natural pain-suppressing system by increasing the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and spinal cord. Learn more about Cymbalta and review some commonly asked questions about Cymbalta.
- Work with other health professionals
Your doctor may recommend working with a range of healthcare providers to help manage your chronic low back pain. This can include seeing a physical therapist, who can work with you to help identify what areas of your back are causing your chronic low back pain.
If your doctor thinks there is a specific cause for your back pain (like a narrowing of the spinal cord, called spinal stenosis) he or she could recommend that you talk with a surgeon. Your doctor may also recommend working with a chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, or other methods as part of your chronic low back pain treatment plan.
- Lifestyle changes
Poor physical health and lack of strength in your back and abdominal muscles are both risk factors of chronic low back pain. As a result, your doctor may recommend changes–like exercise–to lessen how factors like these contribute to your chronic low back pain.
Learn more about other lifestyle changes you can make to help your chronic low back pain.
- Other treatments
Other potential treatment options that may help relieve some types of back pain include surgery and injections; however, their effectiveness is still unknown.
Work with your doctor to help you determine what treatment options are right for you. To help you communicate with your doctor about your health history and any pain that you may be experiencing, complete the Chronic Low Back Pain Doctor Discussion Guide.