If you’re curled up in bed in misery from back pain, the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society have some advice: Get up and get active.
You’re going to be better off doing some walking and low-impact activities “than if you lie around,” says Roger Chou, an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University and lead author of new joint guidelines on back pain released by the two medical groups.
The take-home messages: In the vast majority of cases, the pain will dissipate without medication or surgery, so don’t bother asking for a high-tech MRI or CT scan without giving it at least a month.
Meantime, you may need to experiment with pain medications and alternatives such as exercise therapy, massage, and acupuncture to see what works with a minimum of side effects. A physical exam and a talk with your doctor can help determine if more tests are necessary.
