Back Pain: How Physical Therapy Can Get Your Life Back
- Dr Brad Conder
Lower back pain is one of the most frequently reported pain conditions among adults, especially those above 50. But lower back pain can occur at any time in someone’s life without any apparent injury or cause.
We know that lower back pain can be painful, cause you to miss out on your favorite hobbies, and can make you worried that something else is going on.
So to answer that question, what IS going on?
The good news is, in most cases, lower back pain is not severe and generally wears off with rest in a couple of days.
However, in some instances, it does require the attention of a physical therapist or your family physician.
Unlike the mid-back and neck – which have many, the lower portion of the back is made up of only five vertebrae and connects the spine to the pelvis. We require these five vertebrae to carry a lot of weight such as our upper torso.
So, it’s easy to see why the lower back undergoes tremendous stress from our continuous movement, which can lead to injuries and wear and tear over time.
What Are The Symptoms Of Lower Back Pain?
They’re different for everyone. But most commonly:
What Causes Lower Back Pain?
There are many factors that can contribute to the cause of lower back pain, and that’s why sometimes you should get a complete physical evaluation by a physical therapist to find the cause of your specific set of symptoms.
We see hundreds of patients in our clinic that are experiencing lower back pain for a number of reasons, but we’ve picked out some of the most common causes.
Spinal Arthritis
The gradual wearing away of the spinal joints leads to spinal arthritis, the most common reason for lower back pain. With age, most people (who don’t have physical therapy) start to experience some form of wear and tear in the body’s joints.
Considering the movement and stresses the lower back must endure over the years, it is not unusual for it to start to degenerate. When the protective cartilage between the joints wears off, it can lead to inflammation of the tissues in the lower back.
This wearing-off, combined with inflammation, increases joint friction, leading to lower back pain.
Herniated Disks
Anyone suffering from a herniated disk that sticks out from its regular position is at risk of lower back pain. This causative factor is more common in the lower region of the back.
While the disk itself may not cause any pain, it can radiate pain to other spots when it encounters surrounding nerves.
Injury To The Back
Any traumatic injury to the lower back, like a fall or an accident, can become a cause of back pain. While some of these injuries manifest back pain suddenly, others may take time to become symptomatic.
Contrary to popular belief, sports players and athletes are more at risk of lower back injuries because of increased physical activity levels.
Every day individuals are equally at risk as they can get injured carrying out daily tasks if not done correctly.
How The Modern Lifestyle Causes Lower Back Pain
Unfortunately, one of the leading causes of lower back pain and other types of chronic pain is obesity.
Why? Because if you have a raised BMI (body mass index), your body experiences more significant stress on the spine, which leads to an increase in the natural progression of “wear and tear.”
Also, people with low levels of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle – like many people today – are much more susceptible to pain in the lower back.
Although conversely, an over-strenuous lifestyle and vigorous exercise routine can also increase the risk of pain in the lower back. So, the key to preventing lower back pain and other injuries is to find a happy medium between too much exercise and too little.
One of the most common aspects of modern life that causes lower back pain is the time spent on computers and laptops. Or scrolling on social media – without care or attention given to our posture.
These activities all put stress and strain on the back and weaken the lower back muscles, which can result in lower back pain.
To avoid this type of strain on the back, make sure you get up and move around regularly. Try not to sit in one position for more than 20 minutes at a time, and do at least 30 minutes of exercise three times per week.
Does The Weather Have Any Effect On Lower Back Pain?
On dull, wet, and windy days. When the sky is overcast or mercury dips, it is not uncommon to hear people comment that their back pain or other chronic pain is more intense.
The fact is that pain of all types, including lower back pain, can sometimes be affected by a drop in temperature. This connection with the weather is especially severe if you suffer from arthritic pain.
Many patients feel their arthritis pain intensify in stormy weather. When the weather changes quickly, both joints and muscles can stiffen and are prone to more inflammation and pain.
Can Kidney Problems Cause Lower Back Pain?
We get asked this question a lot by patients with lower back pain who are worried that it might be a sign of a problem with their kidneys.
So, while it is true that kidney pain can appear in the lower back area – as your kidneys are around this area. In most cases, it’s unlikely that a kidney problem is the source of your pain.
But if you are worried and have other symptoms indicative of kidney problems, please consult a doctor.
What Does It Mean If Lower Back Pain Travels into Legs?
It’s common for pain in the lower back to travel to other parts of the body from the point where it originates.
This radiating pain commonly happens on one side of the lower back and legs. When lower back pain radiates down into one or both legs, it may be symptomatic of a nerve-related condition called Sciatica.
Although, there are many other causes of lower back pain traveling to the legs. Such as inflammation of the sacroiliac of facet joints in the hips or inflammation of the surrounding muscles or bursa, as is the case in “bursitis.”
We can quickly and easily identify whether any of these conditions are the case for you.
How To Treat Lower Back Pain
Get Physical Therapy To Treat Lower Back Pain
In most cases, lower back pain will go away independently with adequate rest.
However, if it persists for more than seven days or the intensity of the pain gets worse, we recommend you book a Free Discovery Visit with one of our physical therapists to ask any questions you have and find a solution for your lower back pain.
If you prefer to talk over the telephone you can Book A Free Back Pain Telephone Consultation.
Still Not Quite Ready To Come And See Us?
We understand it can be daunting taking your health into your own hands, so If you’re not quite ready to book an appointment with us, click here to download your Free Back Pain Guide containing helpful hints to ease your back pain at home.
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