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•    Get down on the ground

Many acute or new back injuries are related to the intervertebral disc in the spine.  Most of the time there has been some tearing of the outer fibers of the disc and an inflammatory process quickly starts.  Find a surface that is flat and lie on your stomach.  This may not be comfortable, but can be the most important thing you do!  Lying flat puts your spine in a good position to minimize damage and swelling around the injury.

• Avoid sitting for any length of time

When I say don’t sit, I mean Do Not Sit.  I tell my patients they can lay flat on their stomach or back or they can stand.  Sitting puts pressure on the back of that disc and inevitably will make it worse.  Many times, sitting can feel better, but it is almost never the right position for you.  Sitting to eat is fine, but other than that, no sitting for the first couple days after the injury.

• Ice it don’t Heat it!

When there is an acute inflammatory process, you want to put ice on the low back because it will decrease swelling.  Heat can feel better, but may also cause more blood flow to the area.  After the first couple of days heat is okay if it feels like it relieves symptoms or relaxes muscle spasm, but not right after the injury.

• No stretching the back muscles even if it does feel good

You will get some muscle spasm with new back injuries, but that doesn’t mean you need to stretch them by bending forward.  Often, flexing and bending will make the problem worse in the long run, even if you feel like the stretching relieves tightness in the muscles.  No knees to chest!

• Don’t ignore serious symptoms even if you are embarrassed

Large disc problems and pressure on the spinal cord can cause inability to control the bowel and bladder as well as severe back pain.  Patients do not often like to admit this, but it is very serious.  This loss of control can be permanent if it is not addressed quickly.  Other signs of a serious problem are progressive leg weakness or symptoms down both legs.  If you have these problems you need to see a doctor immediately.

​Hopefully this helps address some of the misconceptions and questions that people have after a new back injury. If you have further questions, give us a call or send us an email.  We are happy to help!

​​To Schedule An Appointment
Call 304.525.4445

Chronic pain is defined by pain that has lasted longer than 3 months. The National Institute of Health reports that 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain in their lives.  Of the people that have back pain, approximately 7% of those people will suffer chronic back pain.  If you do a little quick math, you will find that approximately 18 million people in the United States will suffer from chronic low back pain.  That statistic is staggering, and it doesn’t even take into account the people in the U.S. that have chronic neck pain. Chronic pain doesn’t have to be severe to be addressed and treated.  If your pain and problems are limiting your ability to live life the way you want, then you deserve treatment and improvement.

Treatment methods for chronic pain include medication, injections, counseling, physical therapy, and some surgical options. While any of these methods could work for you, physical therapy has been shown to be efficient and cost effective.  A recent study published in the Journal of Orthopedic and Physical Therapy shows that “patients who chose to enter care via the direct access physical therapy-led spine management program displayed significantly less costs ($1,543 on average) than those who chose traditional medical referrals”. This statistic is particularly relevant in today’s health care atmosphere because of the rising cost of healthcare.   Physical therapy is cheaper, less invasive, and more comprehensive because it uses a whole body approach to treatment.

The whole body approach takes into account not only the location of the pain, but also other areas of the body that can be contributing, as well as psychosocial components. Treatment of chronic pain cannot just focus on one joint or area.  One must evaluate the body as a whole and determine how all the different pieces are working in concert with each other, including the brain.  Those that have had pain for a long time know that the problem is no longer just physical, but also mental. Unless both components are addressed, it will be difficult to gain control over it and achieve a lasting resolution.

​True chronic pain can take several months to properly address, but that doesn’t mean that meaningful progress cannot be made in a short period of time.  Treatment should focus on small victories.  Much of the program can, and should, be done independently with guidance from your PT.  The ultimate goal is to gain an understanding of your problem and learn management techniques that can be used to proactively address the pain.
If you are someone with chronic pain that has not sought treatment, now is the time!  Waiting to see if the pain goes away is not a treatment, it is wishful thinking.   A physical therapist with experience treating chronic pain problems is an excellent resource to get you on the road to recovery.  Contact a physical therapist today and let them guide you on the path to taking control of your life and well being!

​To Schedule An Appointment
Call 304.525.4445