From A Crick To Chronic: Low Back Pain

You’re not alone, low pack pain is incredibly common. 8 in 10 people experi­ence low back pain that requires them to seek treatment. Although the pain may be severe, most low back pain is not due to a serious problem. Usually back pain is contained within the lower back and buttocks. Sometimes the nerves get irritated and cause numbness and tingling in the leg or even to the toes. Some common lifestyle factors are:

• Sitting or driving too much
• Being in poor physical condition
• Bending and lifting improperly

As we get older, the most common culprits of back pain are weakened muscles and stiffening joints. Nutrition and sleep are also hallmarks of a therapy evaluation. Often times people overlook nutrition as it relates to pain. For instance, turmeric has proven benefits for back pain.

Different types of pain require different physical therapy treatments. The golden rule is “the sooner the better” when it comes to seeking treatment. Acute-onset pain comes on suddenly and lasts less than week. You can expect a physical therapist to alleviate this type of acute pain in less than 5 one-on-one sessions.

This sudden-onset and early treatment combination is the key to decreasing your pain and getting back to full activity.

The longer the pain restricts daily or recreational activities, the further you go into chronic pain mode. Although chronic pain is defined as lasting greater than six months, adverse muscular and nerve changes occur after just the first week of pain. Here, treatment plans entirely depend on length of time with pain. Your key here is to stay active! If you are concerned this nagging pain will not subside, your physical therapist will customize an exercise program and treatment plan for you.

If you are an active adult in Denver looking for a non-drug, non-surgical solution to your low back pain – from a crick to chronic – contact Heather Lane Physical Therapy today.