Simple therapy ‘best for backs’
Paracetamol and keeping active are the best cures for back pain, according to Australian researchers who warn that other treatments do not work.
A Lancet study of 240 back pain sufferers found anti-inflammatory drugs and spinal manipulation did not make any difference to recovery time.
I love this study because it backs up (no pun intended) what I’ve known for about 25 years. That the best thing for lower back pain is just continuous gentle movement and occasional painkillers, though I do sometimes take an anti-inflammatory for the first day or two.
And that’s it! No muscle relaxants, no bone-crackers, no nuthin else is necessary.
It’s kind of like having a cold. If you rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids and take aspirin your cold will last for about 7 days. If you do none of those things it’ll last a week.
casa azahar 
that little nurse is damn cute 🙂
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I ‘borrow’ all those cute smileys from h2g2 … just have to right click and save them if you’d like one too.
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I wish that the Lancet study had included massage therapy. There is a certain amount of research that indicates it can be a valuable modality for relief. And I would not describe it as spinal manipulation.
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thanks for the tip azahar.
but I like visiting your blog and getting a surprise when you use them.
it’s an added incentive to visit 🙂
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As a sufferer of back muscle weakness (they spasm and tear easily) for a number of decades, I find rest and gentle exercise is the best cure – accompanied by some nice muscle relaxing alcohol – taken internally for medicinal purposes only 🙂
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I think massage therapy would naturally be included, hmh, as it wouldn’t fall into the ‘bone cracker’ spinal manipulation nonsense.
And I agree with Archie that muscle relaxants taken in liquid form are quite beneficial, and not just for back pain. 🙂
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