Hi,
There is nothing like a specified time period. Once you feel better you can have the next one. Many treatment options for
low back pain can be tailored to an individual patient’s needs.
Treatments include care administered at home, medicinal remedies, alternative care, or even surgery. Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, some treatments may be more effective than others. Many people find that a combination of treatments is best.
Basic remedies applied at home can be effective for treating mild or acute pain from
muscle strain, as well as reducing the effects of chronic,
severe pain. Self-care is administered by the individual and can easily be adjusted. These methods include:
1. Short rest period. Many episodes of lower back pain can be improved by briefly avoiding strenuous activity. It is not advised to rest for more than a few days, as too much inactivity can make healing more difficult.
2. Activity modification. One variant of resting is to stay active but avoid activities and positions that aggravate the pain. For example, if long periods of sitting in a car or at a desk make the pain worse, then set a timer to get up every 20 minutes and walk around or gently stretch. If standing makes the pain worse, avoid chores that require standing such as washing dishes at the sink. Avoiding, or minimizing, activities and positions that worsen the pain will help prevent or reduce painful
back spasms and allow for a better healing environment.
3. Heat/ice therapy. Heat from a warm bath, hot water bottle, electric
heating pad, or chemical or adhesive heat wraps can relax tense muscles and improve blood flow. Increased blood flow brings nutrients and oxygen that muscles need to heal and stay healthy. If the low back is painful due to inflammation, ice or cold packs can be used to reduce swelling. It’s important to protect the skin while applying heat and ice to prevent tissue damage.
4. Alternating heat and ice can be especially helpful when returning to activity: applying heat before activities helps relax muscles, allowing for better flexibility and mobility; applying ice after activity reduces the chances of an area becoming irritated and swollen from exercise.
5. Over-the-counter pain medications. The most common over-the-counter (OTC) medications are aspirin (e.g. Bayer),
ibuprofen (e.g. Advil), naproxen (e.g. Aleve), and
acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol). Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are anti-inflammatory medicines, which alleviate low back pain caused by a swollen nerves or muscles. Acetaminophen works by interfering with pain signals sent to the brain.
6. Self-care treatments generally do not need guidance from a doctor, but should be used carefully and attentively. Any type of medication carries possible risks and side effects. If a patient is unsure which kinds of self-care would work best, talking to a doctor is advised.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.