Back Pain

WHAT IS BACK PAIN

Back pain can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include overuse such as working out or lifting too much, prolonged sitting and lying down, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or wearing a poorly fitting backpack.

service

Why should I have service?/When you need

The short- and long-term goals of physical therapy for back pain typically include the following: Decrease painful symptoms in the lower back and/or leg. Improve low back function to tolerate daily activities as independently as possible. Increase the spine’s flexibility and improve its range of motion.

What to Expect

Your therapist will teach proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting that reduce the likelihood of back strain or injury. You will also learn specific exercises to do at home. Regularly performing these recommended home exercises can help your back muscles strengthen more quickly.

Benefits

Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.

common conditions

A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain). Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.

Treatment

Most back pain gets better within a month of home treatment, especially for people younger than age 60. However, for many, the pain lasts several months.

SYMPTOMS

Back pain can range from local pain in a specific spot to generalized pain spreading all over the back. Sometimes the pain radiates away from the back to other areas of your body, such as the buttocks, legs, or abdomen. The intensity of back pain varies for each person. Depending on the type, causes, and location of your back pain, you may experience:

Increasing pain with lifting and bending.
Worsening pain when resting, sitting, or standing.
Back pain that comes and goes.
Stiffness in the morning when awakening and lessened back pain with activity.
Pain that radiates away from the back into the buttocks, leg, or hip.
Numbness or weakness in your legs or feet.

SEVERE SYMPTOMS

You should see a doctor if your pain does not improve after a few weeks or if any of the following symptoms happen with your back pain:

Numbness and tingling.
Severe back pain that does not improve with medication (see Treatment section).
Back pain after a fall or injury.
Back pain along with:
- Trouble urinating.
- Weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs.
- Fever.
- Weight loss that you did not intend.

CAUSES OF BACK PAIN

Back pain can be caused by many different factors, which may all be present at the same time and interact to result in chronic low back pain. These could include mechanical or structural problems with the spine, inflammatory conditions, and other medical conditions. It is also possible that no specific cause can be identified for the start of back pain.

PROCEDURE

What procedure is done for back pain?

Spinal laminectomy/spinal decompression. This is performed when spinal stenosis causes a narrowing of the spinal Tcanal that results in pain, numbness, or weakness. The surgeon removes the bony walls of the vertebrae and any bone spurs, aiming to open up the spinal column to remove pressure on the nerves.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What to expect in back physical therapy?

How long is physical therapy for back pain?

There is no standard length of time PT usually takes. Depending on a person’s injury or health condition, they may require sessions one or more times per week for several weeks or months in addition to an at-home exercise program.

What happens after physical therapy is done?

After you complete your therapy sessions, your physical therapist will give you additional instructions for using what you’ve learned in your regular life. This may include stretches and exercises to do every day, or rules for easing back in to regular activity.

Does physical therapy have side effects?

It is completely normal to be sore after a treatment, or even have a flare-up temporarily after. We are working on injured muscles/joints, therefore, it’s normal to experience slightly more soreness and pain after treatment, or experience more DOMs.

BOOK APPOINTMENT

You can schedule an appointment online at any time. Make your booking now for Better Health Chiropractic Clinic.

BACK PAIN