Treatment - Mechanical back pain
The recommended treatment for episodes of mechanical back pain is pain relief medication, and a programme of prescribed exercises. A return to near normal activity from the outset is advisable. Some people find the application of heat and cold to the affected area beneficial in the acute stage. Some individuals may be confined to bed in the acute stage, but this should be limited to 24 - 48 hours maximum, and should not be considered a treatment. Mechanical Back Pain does not have an identifiable cause, which would be amenable to surgery.
In 1996, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in collaboration with other professional organisations covering Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic and the National Back Pain Organisation, produced “Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain”.
These brief guidelines were constructed by a multi-professional group and were subjected to extensive professional review. They are intended for use by the whole range of health professionals in the NHS and in private practice, who advise people who have back pain. They present a combination of up to date international evidence and recommendations for treatment.
Investigations
As mechanical back pain does not have a specific cause, and is not a specific disease entity, there are no laboratory tests or investigations (including imaging), which will confirm the diagnosis. X-ray or imaging results may be positively misleading for the reasons described above.
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