National Institute of Health Ice in the first 48 hours of a back injury and heating pads thereafter are traditional, time-honored ways to gain temporary back pain relief, as well as relief from other types of pain. Both of these approaches fall under the rubric of conservative care for treating the symptoms of mild to moderate back pain.
Spinal manipulation is performed by chiropractors.
Although there has long been controversy between the traditional medical environment and chiropractors regarding the benefits of spinal manipulation, this has changed substantially in recent years. This approach gained the endorsement of an expert panel which evaluated back pain treatments for the Agency for Health Policy Research two years ago. The panel concluded that these types of manipulations are not only effective in reducing pain but may speed recovery within the first month of back pain symptoms as well. Despite these studies, some orthopedists and physical therapists maintain that chiropractic manipulations offer patients little more than psychological relief for their pain. In any given case, it would seem wise to obtain several opinions from each of the available specialists.