Back Pain - Naprosyn® Pain Relief

On this page you can learn more about what causes back pain, including common symptoms, along with recommended lifestyle changes and information about short-term back pain relief options, such as Naprosyn® Pain Relief.

What is back pain?

Back pain is a very common condition among adults, especially in the lower back. In fact, over 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. There are five regions of the spine where you may feel pain:

neck (cervical spine)
upper back (thoracic spine)
lower back (lumbar spine)
sacrum
tailbone (coccyx).

Short-term (acute) back pain symptoms will typically ease in a couple of weeks and have gone within six weeks. If it does last longer than this, it’s important to seek advice from a healthcare professional. Long-term (chronic) back pain is when symptoms continue for three months or longer.

What causes back pain?

There are a number of causes for back pain, which vary depending on if it’s non-specific or specific back pain. Most of the time, back pain is non-specific which means there’s no clear cause though it is generally a strain or small tear to a muscle or ligament. There are certain things that can trigger back pain, such as:

poor posture
lifting heavy objects
standing for long periods of time
not exercising enough.

Back pain can also be caused by medical conditions, such as:

Sciatica is a condition that can cause pain in your lower back, bottom and leg. It happens when the sciatic nerve that runs from your lower back down your leg is irritated or compressed.
This is a health condition that can weaken bones, meaning they’re more fragile and likely to break. Broken spinal bones is a common injury in people who have osteoporosis.
AS is a type of arthritis where the spine and other parts of the body become inflamed, which can cause a lot of pain and stiffness in the back. It is generally worse in the morning and at night.
CES is a rare but serious condition that happens when the nerves at the tail end of the spinal cord are compressed. As these nerves are sensitive, emergency treatment is necessary.

What are the symptoms of back pain?

Symptoms of back pain can include:

stiffness
muscle spasms
stabbing pains in your back, legs or feet
numbness
weakness.

How to relieve back pain

Most of the time, back pain goes away on its own within a few weeks but to help ease the pain and speed up recovery, there are a few things that can help.

Over-the-counter medication

If you have pain in your back, muscles or joints, pain relief tablets can help keep you moving and ease your pain. For example, paracetamol works well for mild to moderate pain and aches. Alternatively, you can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for back ache.

An active ingredient in Naprosyn^® Pain Relief tablets, naproxen is an effective treatment for musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and works by reducing swelling and pain in joints and muscles. It is available behind the pharmacy counter.

Exercises and stretches

To recover from back pain, it’s important to keep active. By resting or avoiding activities that may cause pain for more than a couple of days, you may cause your pain to last longer. However, you can take medication to help relieve the pain while completing these activities.

There are also some specific exercises and stretches that can support tissue healing and help you move more easily over time. You should monitor your pain and rate it out of 10. If it’s over 5, you should reduce the intensity and increase rest time between movements. Exercises for back pain include:

knee rolls
pelvic tilts
single or double knee hug
cat camel.

Posture

Poor posture can lead to pain in the area of your upper back, neck and shoulders , which are connected by the trapezius muscle. As this part of your back generally has less movement, tension can build up if you stay in the same position for too long, causing pain and stiffness. For upper back and trapezius muscle pain relief, there are a few things to do to improve your posture:

avoid slouching forward
keep your knees slightly bent so they’re not locked in
change position regularly, moving every 20 minutes
make sure your weight is equally distributed between your feet when standing.

Lifestyle changes

A number of factors can contribute to back pain, such as low mood or not getting enough sleep, so by making some lifestyle changes, you may be able to ease the pain. For example, you can:

avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed to improve sleep
keep regular sleep times
meditate and do breathing exercises
do gentle exercise
ensure you eat a healthy, balanced diet
quit smoking.

Explore Naprosyn^® Pain Relief

Containing naproxen for back pain relief, Naprosyn^® Pain Relief tablets are an effective, long-lasting treatment available from the pharmacy without a prescription. Visit our about Naprosyn^® Pain Relief page to learn more, or speak to your healthcare professional for more information.