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Ibuprofen or naproxen
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- Can reduce pain and stiffness
- Side effects usually mild and well tolerated
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- Long-term use can cause indigestion and stomach ulcers
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Prescription painkillers ranging from moderate-strength (e.g. codeine) to powerful (e.g. morphine)
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- More effective than NSAIDs in treating severe pain
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- Potentially addictive, so long-term use is usually not recommended
- Can cause nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, vomiting, constipation
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Antidepressants used for their painkiller effect
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- Can be effective when traditional painkillers do not work
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- Can cause dry mouth, constipation, sweating, problems passing urine, slight blurring of vision, drowsiness
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A complementary medicine; needles are placed in different parts of the body
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- Access on the NHS can be limited in some parts of the country (many people pay for private treatment)
- Can cause pain, bruising, bleeding, drowsiness, worsening of existing symptoms
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Programme of group exercises designed to strengthen muscles and improve posture
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- Can help relieve symptoms and speed up recovery
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- May not be suitable for people in severe pain and those with other long-term conditions
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Joints and muscles in the spine are massaged and manipulated, usually by a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath
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- Can provide medium- to long-term relief of pain and improvement in function
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- Access on the NHS can be limited in some parts of the country (many people pay for private treatment)
- Can cause pain, stiffness, fatigue (tiredness), headache
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A structured programme that contains exercise and psychological therapy
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- Can be effective when other treatments fail to work
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- Therapy is intensive, involving around 100 hours of treatment
- The psychological elements may be unsuitable for people with learning difficulties or mental health conditions
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Two or more vertebrae (bones) in the spine are fused together to improve stability of the spine
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- Can be effective where damage to the vertebrae is responsible for pain
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- Surgery fails to significantly improve pain in around one in five cases
- May result in infection, blood clots, retrograde ejaculation (absence of sperm when ejaculating), bowel and/or bladder incontinence
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