Are You Suffering From Lower Back Pain That's Stopping You From Exercising, Ruining Your Sleep, And Leaving You Feeling Helpless?
Having lower back pain is a common problem, but it's not something you should accept.
Many people have tried to rest, take some pills, have injections, and even have surgery in hope that it goes away. However, in nearly all cases, it becomes worse and more frequent until it's taking over your life.
But there are natural ways to relieve your lower back pain, and get back to living a happy, and active lifestyle without stiffness and discomfort when you move.
What should i do if i have lower back pain?
People suffering with low back pain may be fearful of not being able to return to work, worried that there's something more seriously wrong, fearful of not being taken seriously, or wary of being dependent on medications. Unfortunately, chronic pain and opioid dependency is very real.
Often when people go to their doctor, or sometimes even their physical therapist, they're given handouts with exercises, but that is not a substitute for guided care by a compassionate and skilled physical therapist. An expert physical therapist explains the ‘why’ of your pain based on the patient’s condition, the anatomy, and the biomechanics, as well as how to fix it, how long it takes and what to expect along the way.
Exercises on their own will not make a lasting impact on reducing back pain. Overloading muscles that are already in spasm and inflamed joints does not calm pain. Instead, it fatigues, it braces, and it develops trigger points.
Importance of Early Physical Therapy
The direct care for low back pain by a skilled physical therapist should be started as soon as possible. Caren works as a primary care physical therapist. If movement aggravates the pain, physical therapy is very effective. If movement relieves the pain, Caren can educate by teaching exercises and positions of active relaxation as well as breathing techniques for relaxation. Early management of low back pain decreases pain amplification.
Misconceptions About Rest and Activity
Frequently, people are told to take it easy or rest, which often gets misconstrued, meaning people stop doing any exercise when they feel bad. Then they might have a good day, so they enter the boom or bust cycle, where they play catch up on their daily activities, and tasks. However, following this they find themselves back in bed resting for the next three days. What they should be told is to do some light exercise while resting and backing off from the activities or positions that make your back worse.
Guidance on Movement and Rest
If activity causes sharp shooting pains, refrain from that activity. Back off that exercise or position. It’s essential to correct the form and modify the position to protect the injured area while they stabilize and strengthen the tissues around it. If someone is told to rest, it's to rest from the things that aggravate the pain. Movement, even if it's a little bit of walking, can be very helpful because good circulation is needed as part of the healing process. Humans are designed for movement and perform better when moving.
Role of Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts who work to activate core stabilizers, calm muscle tension, decrease spasm, address any trigger points, find and address the root cause, correct biomechanical alignment, reintroduce movement, and muscle activation in the correct sequence and timeframe. They should also explain the problem, ensure it makes sense to the patient, and educate clients on how it can be fixed. As the leading nerve pain expert in Studio City, LA, Caren is able to do all of this and more to help you on your recovery journey.