By Dr. Scott Gray
If you suffer from back pain, this article may help you find relief sooner than you ever imagined.
Attention Back Pain Sufferers:
If you suffer from back pain, this article may help you find relief sooner than you ever imagined. It turns out seeing a Doctor of Physical Therapy may not only get you pain free faster, but your individualized program can help you avoid a trip to the doctor entirely!
If you are one of the many people who suffer from back pain, you already know what a negative impact it can have on your life. Four out of five people will experience back pain during their lifetime. It’s so common that lower back pain is THE leading cause of disability worldwide!
Which of these symptoms do you have?
• Muscle ache
• Shooting or stabbing pain
• Pain that radiates down your leg
• Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
• Pain that improves with reclining
Science has now proven that physical therapy (PT) is central to becoming pain-free.
Knowing the cause of your pain will have a direct effect on your treatment plan.
Back Pain Causes
• Muscle or ligament strain
• Bulging or ruptured disks
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Skeletal issues in the spine (i.e. scoliosis)
Things You Can Control
• Age (ok, so this one you can’t control…just know that the older you are the higher the risk).
• Lack of exercise
• Excess weight
• Improper lifting
• Psychological conditions
• Smoking
All too often, because you’re in such pain, doctors may prescribe powerful pain medication. And while your first call may be to your physician, here’s why you should insist on getting a proper physical therapy program in place as soon as possible. “Researchers reviewed insurance claims for approximately 150,000 adults, ages 18 to 64, who had been newly diagnosed with low back pain. They found that those who first consulted a physical therapist had an 89% lower probability of receiving an opioid prescription compared with those who saw another type of medical provider. They were also less likely to have an MRI or CT scan or to seek out emergency care for their pain.”—Source: Health Services Research
Why Physical Therapy?
What makes physical therapy such a key part of your treatment? Not too long ago, if you suffered from serious back pain, you would most likely be told to immobilize your back and rest. It turns out that advice is dead wrong, and it may even cause a bout of back pain to linger!
Another treatment that once was far more common is surgery. But studies now show that surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain. And in many cases, it provides little or no relief.
Physical therapy and exercise are likely to offer the most relief.
Physical therapists, such as those at Back In Motion Sports & Spinal Physical Therapy, are extensively trained on very specific strengthening movements and flexibility movements, which speed healing by increasing blood flow to the injured area.
Because the back is so complex, the treatment plan must be highly individualized. A “cookie cutter” solution simply won’t work.
There are three primary reasons to see a physical therapist for your low back pain:
- To get relief from pain! This is the most obvious
reason. - To address the cause of your back pain rather
than just treating your symptoms with injections,
needles, and invasive surgeries - To put together an exercise program that is
specific to you and your needs!
A Common Trap
Because low back pain can be so debilitating, people are often driven to extremes.
There are numerous products on the market that promise prevention or relief. But you should know there’s no definitive evidence that special shoes, shoe inserts, back supports, or stress management programs help in any way! In fact, the only thing these options do is cause you to delay proper treatment and prolong your pain!
So, What’s the Next Obvious Step?
The fastest path to pain relief is to work with a physical therapist trained to create and implement an individual exercise and flexibility plan designed for you that addresses the cause of your back pain, and not just your symptoms.
Odds are most of us will have to deal with back pain at one point or another, just don’t fall into the default of prescription pain medication and possible surgery. In fact, the studies now indicate that NOT contacting a qualified physical therapist will only prolong your pain.
If you’re one of the millions of people dealing with new or ongoing back pain, we invite you to call one of our Back Pain Experts today. We’ll discuss your unique situation and recommend a logical course of action for you. There is no obligation. We’ll simply offer proven advice that could save you an unnecessary trip to the doctor’s office, along with weeks or even months of excruciating pain.
Call now to schedule an appointment: (239) 223-0484
To learn more about Dr. Gray and his practice please visit: https://backinmotionsspt.com