What To Do If You Have Lower Back Pain
Many of us have experienced back pain at one point or another. It could be at the most inopportune times or even ‘weirdest of circumstances’ when your lower back suddenly aches. The next few moments, will most likely have you twisting and stretching in futile attempts to take the discomfort away.
We all have tried this unsuccessful self healing technique.
As we continue to read about those lives affected by lower back pain, we find articles covering the exact same questions millions of Americans have.
What should I do if I have lower back pain?
What to do if you have Lower Back Pain
Did you know that 85% of people will have back pain at some point in their life? But what should you do if your back hurts? Should you see your primary care physician, an orthopedist, athletic trainer (AT), physical therapist (PT), chiropractor? Each of these options can be helpful and the rest of this post will help give some recommendations.
If you have minor pain for a day or two, you likely don’t need to see a physician; however if the pain persists or radiates down your leg, call your physician. If at any point you have bowel or bladder issues with back pain, you should immediately go to the Emergency Room as this constitutes a medical emergency. Back Pain, like most other injuries, can be separated into acute (recent) injuries and chronic (long term) injuries. Unfortunately, regular acute back pain often leads to chronic back pain as the person ages.
(Source: What to do if you have Lower Back Pain)
Back pain is often different for younger people (under 40) and those over 50 or 60. For younger individuals, we often see 3 types of injuries:
Minor muscle strains that generally create soreness in the low back. They often limit athletic performance and can make it very difficult to move initially, but will get better in a few days. Having an adjustment for your back is often helpful if done within two weeks and you don’t experience any pain past your knee. Generally seeing a Chiropractor, PT or AT, is helpful for a manipulation (or mobilization). If you have these injuries yearly (or more than that), this is a warning sign from your body that there is a deeper cause of the injury. An AT or PT can design a program to help prevent the injury from re-occurring.
When these injuries occur too often, it can lead into the second type of injury: Disc Herniations. The typical presentation for disc herniation is an individual that complains of pain, numbness or tingling down the leg, typically at the back of the thigh, calf or into the toes. This occurs when the herniated disc pinches the sciatic nerve (this is often called Sciatica). This person often reports a previous history of “throwing their back out” a few times a year. In this case, seeing a physician — preferably an orthopedist — is helpful. They can help determine the extent of the injury and prescribe medication to alleviate some of the pain and inflammation. Following-up with a rehabilitation specialist such as a PT or AT is a great second step.
(Source: What to do if you have Lower Back Pain)
Individuals with a disc herniation typically have increased pain with flexion (bending over) and that usually makes the sciatica worse, thus it is good to avoid that position initially. In a more severe herniation, the individual will have weakness in certain muscles of the leg. Clinicians can often narrow down which low back disc is injured based on what muscles are weak and where you feel numbness or tingling. Not every disc herniation requires surgery. Conservative care which includes rehabilitation, will resolve most of your symptoms helping you avoid surgery. If this doesn’t work, then a cortisone injection in your back may be indicated. If you do need surgery, a spine specialist will remove the herniated portion of the disc to alleviate the pressure on the nerve.
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