By, John Stephen, PT, PPD, COMPT, Cert. MDT
You are probably reading this article because you have low back pain or have experienced it at some point in your life. You’re not alone. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 Americans will have back pain in the next two years and that after the common cold, it’s the next most common reason for missed time at work. 75% of people experience some sort of back pain in their life. It costs almost 90 billion dollars a year, draining the American economy.
The lumbar spine bears the most weight on the 5 vertebrae and discs which over time undergo degenerative changes. There are so many reasons you could have low back pain. Some of the common reasons you may have back pain are:
● Lumbar strain
● Lumbar spondylosis (degeneration/arthritis)
● Spondylolisthesis (slipping of vertebrae)
● Lumbar stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal/foramina where the nerve exits)
● Lumbar disc protrusion, herniation, or extrusion
● Sciatica
● Sacro-iliac joint pain
Low back pain could also arise due to kidney stones and other systemic reasons. A trained physical therapist or medical provider would be able to perform a differential diagnosis to determine if this is the case.
Many people nowadays think a $4k MRI is the answer to low back pain. While an MRI may confirm or rule out a diagnosis, it never resolves your pain. Research has shown that many individuals may have an abnormal MRI but with no symptoms at all.
Additionally, surgery should always be the last resort for low back pain or radiculopathy. Conservative treatment such as spine physical therapy has been clinically proven by research for resolving back pain long-term. Surgery should be considered only when conservative methods have failed. Many complex low back issues could be addressed by orthopedic manual therapy and evidence based non-surgical methods like the Mckenzie method, which is what we use at Rehab Specialists.
If you have low back pain which has lasted more than a week, do not ignore it. Most low back strains may resolve within a week with activity modifications, and NSAIDS. However, you may need immediate attention if you have bowel or bladder issues with onset of back or leg pain (call your physician immediately or go to the nearest emergency room).
Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong and I often find people trying to diagnose their pain by using google. The biggest mistake people make is to ignore the pain or alter it by taking pain killers, narcotics, or steroid injections.
Prevention is the best strategy and often results in avoiding surgery. Core stability is the key to a healthy back. What exactly are the core muscles? Contrary to what many think, it is not your tummy muscles. Your core is made up of deeper muscles on the front, side and back of your spine. These muscles make a corset around your spine and protects them. Over time, poor posture and lack of exercise lead to weakness and thus causing uneven wear and tear of vertebrae.
By seeking care for your back at the right time from a spine specialty trained physical therapist or physician, you are taking care of yourself and preventing costly surgeries and disabilities for life.