When is back pain serious enough to need treatment?

If you’re asking that question, then it’s time to seek treatment. Generally, the rule of thumb is that if you are experiencing back pain for more than two weeks or it is hindering you from your daily activities, it’s time for treatment.

For many people, back pain is caused by a minor condition that can be treated with several weeks of physical therapy and at-home treatments. However, when these minor conditions are not addressed, they can turn serious and require spine surgery. For this reason, it’s always better to err on the safe side and see your doctor within two weeks of your back pain starting.

How do I know what treatment I need?

When you make your initial appointment with your doctor to evaluate your back pain, your doctor will perform a series of tests to determine the cause of your pain. These tests may include range-of-motion and X-ray/MRI testing. Once your doctor determines the cause and severity of your back pain, he or she will recommend the next course of action. For most patients, physical therapy is recommended to treat mild to moderate back pain. 

How does physical therapy treat back pain?

The majority of back pain cases are caused by three factors:

• Obesity/being overweight 
• Weak core muscles
• Incorrect posture

These factors cause additional stress to press against the discs and cartilage in the spine, causing them to wear down and move out of alignment. When this happens, a nearby nerve root can become compressed, which is what is causing your pain. 

Physical therapy addresses these factors by providing guided workouts to strengthen the core muscles and reduce pressure on the spine. A physical therapist will show you how to perform your daily activities without sacrificing your posture and thus placing stress on your lower back.

Find relief from serious back pain

If your back pain is serious enough for you to think about treatment, then it’s time to schedule an appointment. You no longer need a referral to see a physical therapist. You can skip the middleman and schedule an appointment for a physical therapy consultation to determine the cause of your back pain and the best treatment plan to find relief. 

It’s time to take your life back from chronic back pain. Contact our team at Back in Motion today to schedule an appointment.