Is non-pharmacological treatment an effective option for chronic low back pain?

OBJECTIVE: Despite of pain being important warning signal for body ability to respond to internal or external threats, chronic pain is perceived as a discomfort by patients, leading to somatic, emotional and social negative changes. Lifestyle, wrong seating habits and some occupations may contribute to chronic back pain. Therapy for chronic back pain should include not only pharmacological or invasive interventions, but mostly change of lifestyle, physiotherapy and non-pharmacological methods.
METHODS: The main objective of the paper was to compare subjective perception of the effectiveness of various methods for treatment of low back pain. In total, 100 patients were asked to fill the questionnaire after completing the treatment, whether conventional or non-pharmacological. We have aimed to analyze not only the perception of the patients, but also indicators of the patient's lifestyle, their nutrition and physical activity.
RESULTS: Oral drugs was the most effective option perceived by the patients, followed by non-pharmacological methods, such as massages, heat application and acupuncture. At the same time, all patients who changed their lifestyle, for example reduced smoking and alcohol and increased physical activity, achieved better results in non-pharmacological treatment and experienced higher pain alleviation compared to the patients treated by medications only.
CONCLUSION: Non-pharmacological therapy of chronic non-malignant low back pain could be an effective option offered in combination with medicaments and change of lifestyle.