This Is the 1 Most Effective Treatment for Low-Back Pain, a New Study Suggests

If you've tried absolutely everything to treat your low-back pain to no avail, you are not alone. More than 28 percent of U.S. adults deal with some form of lower back pain from things like overuse injuries, stress, and poor posture, and therefore have trouble finding an effective relief option. Sometimes, things like massage, stretching, and ice temporarily ease acute pain, but according to new research, one low-back pain relief option might beat out all the rest: NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

A meta-analysis published last week in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine analyzed 301 studies and found that out of 56 noninvasive low-back pain treatments, NSAIDs (like Advil, Motrin, and Aleve) were the most effective at treating short-term, acute pain. The next most effective treatments were those for chronic pain, specifically, and included exercise, spinal manipulation (aka chiropractic adjustments), tape, antidepressants, and topical pain-relief cream (like IcyHot). Still, researchers did not find these as effective as NSAIDS.¹

The studies included in the analysis had participants rate their pain on a scale of zero to 100 each time they tried a new treatment and depending on whether they had chronic (i.e., more than 12 weeks) or acute (i.e., less than 12 weeks) pain. Based on their ratings, researchers determined NSAIDs were overall the more effective option for quick relief. Other options, including lifestyle changes like getting more exercise, were more helpful when practiced long term.

Despite these findings, researchers agree that more studies are needed on all of the treatment options in the analysis, including treatments that produced "inconclusive" results due to small participant sizes and inconsistency in pain scale results. Translation: While one treatment may work for you, it might not work for other people, and vice versa.

More specifically, NSAIDs are not for everyone. If you have a history of stomach bleeding or other gastrointestinal illnesses, for example, your healthcare provider may recommend another type of pain medication instead (like acetaminophen), as long-term NSAID use can increase bleeding risk.²

Bottom line: Just because this study found NSAIDs to be most effective, doesn't mean they will work for your pain and body, in particular. But if your healthcare provider gives you the "all clear," there is no harm in trying out a variety of treatment options, including NSAIDs, to relieve your lower back pain. (More on this below.)

4 tips for reducing low-back pain

"Back pain is viewed more and more like a common cold, like 90 percent-plus of the time, it's going to get better by itself in six weeks," or so, Nick Rolnick, DPT, a certified physical therapist known as "The Human Performance Mechanic," previously told Well+Good. If your pain doesn't improve within that timeframe, it's best to schedule a visit with your healthcare provider, who can help you figure out the root cause of your issue.

In the meantime, if you're looking for some relief beyond NSAIDs, Harvard Health recommends these strategies:

• Apply ice and heat. Alternating between cold compresses and heating pads can alleviate pain by numbing the lower back and reducing swelling. Try ice for when you first notice pain (i.e., when you first injured your back), and then heat within the following 48 hours. This should help for up to a week.
• Rest when you need it. While it's not recommended to stay completely sedentary when you hurt your back, allowing yourself a little more time to rest than usual can keep your pain from getting worse. If your pain is severe, experts recommend lying down a few hours at a time for one to two days.
• Try gentle stretching. Continuing to move is key to healing your back. Start with gentle stretches, like cobra pose, knees to chest, or happy baby pose, to release muscle tension. As you heal, work your way up to exercises like glute bridges, crunches, and other core-strengthening exercises to stabilize your spine.
• Get a massage. A therapeutic massage can help relax aching muscles and provide some much-needed relief.
• Visit your healthcare provider. If over-the-counter medications and home remedies do not relieve your pain, visiting your healthcare provider for an X-ray or other testing can help diagnose and treat the cause of your pain.