How long does inflammation in the back last?
Also called the inflammatory stage, the acute stage occurs at the time of the injury, and can continue for up to 72 hours.
Anti-inflammatory medication
Common medications such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol help to relieve the inflamed area in these mild cases. You can also use anti-inflammatory topical creams that will help reduce inflammation and relieve some of the mild pain symptoms in your back.
There is no single cure for inflammatory back pain caused by spondyloarthritis, but symptoms can be managed through a combination of exercise, physical therapy, medication, and alternative treatments.
Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
Inflammation is your body's natural response to protect itself from harm and is a known cause of back pain. Studies have suggested that an anti-inflammatory diet can be just as effective at treating back pain as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
Symptoms. Patients with spinal inflammation will experience back pain in some form. Those with infections, for example, may experience a slow onset of severe back pain, accompanied by fever, chills, and fatigue. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis experience slow-onset pain as well, but it may come and go.
You can buy some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, without a prescription. NSAIDs help reduce the swelling around the swollen disk or arthritis in the back. NSAIDs and acetaminophen in high doses, or if taken for a long time, can cause serious side effects.
Going on walks: Initial research suggests that going on a walk or brisk walking (Nordic walking) can help relieve back pain if done regularly – for instance, every two days for 30 to 60 minutes.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
- Pain that gets worse when you move, especially when bending or stretching.
- Difficulty standing up straight.
- Swelling or bruising in a specific area.
- Sharp or achy pain, usually limited to the lower back and buttocks area.
- Spasm-like pain or cramps.
Pain in inflammatory back pain is more often localized to the lumbar spine and may be associated with buttock pain that alternates from one side to another; though, it is patient characteristics, chronicity, and pain progression that set IBP apart from other causes.