When Should You Seek Back Pain Treatment After an Injury?

Whether you fell, had a car accident, picked up a heavy box, or simply sat in a strange position for too long, there's no denying that back pain can happen to anyone. While some receive back pain relief on their own and suffer only short-term discomfort, others find that their situation requires professional help. 

This article will explain when back pain needs treatment and how physical therapy can assist in the healing process.

Understanding Back Pain 

Back pain can feel like a dull ache or a sharp or chronic sensation. It can happen in the lower back, upper back, or middle back and radiate to the legs, neck, or arms. In addition, back pain can come with swelling, stiffness, and a restricted range of motion. This is especially true after injury. 

Common causes of back pain include: 

• Straining when lifting heavy objects: Lifting an overly heavy object the wrong way can strain back muscles in seconds. 
• Falls/slips: Falling onto concrete or slipping and twisting an ankle can hurt spinal components and musculature.
• Car accidents: The impact of a car accident can induce back pain even if you feel fine immediately afterward. 
• Sports injuries: Collisions in sports or quick movements can hurt backs. Not stretching before and after playing sports can also lead to back pain.
• Poor posture: Sitting or standing in poor posture for hours at a time can strain the back over time. 
• Musculoskeletal conditions: Strains, bulging discs, arthritis, and scoliosis can play a part in back pain. 
• Obesity: Increased weight places additional stress on the back, which invites back pain.

When to Seek Back Pain Treatment 

Not every episode of back pain warrants a doctor's visit, but certain situations call for an appointment sooner rather than later. Symptoms include: 

• When back pain lasts longer than a few days
• When back pain increases instead of decreasing 
• When you cannot stand, walk, or move with ease 
• When you have tingling legs or numbness in the legs
• When you have bowel or bladder incontinence 
• When back pain keeps you from sleeping or performing daily activities

Why Timely Care for Back Injuries Matters 

Timely care for a back injury is essential; otherwise, it can go from an insignificant issue to chronic complications. Timely back pain treatment reduces pain, prevents further injury, and increases rehabilitation efficiency.

How Physical Therapy Can Alleviate Back Pain

The goal of back pain physical therapy is to get you back to feeling like yourself and prevent symptoms from returning. Your physical therapist will find the cause of your back pain and design a personalized plan just for you.

What Happens During Back Pain Physical Therapy? 

The first step in physical therapy is an evaluation. The therapist inquires about the injury, current pain levels, and dysfunction. Then, posture, range of motion, and strength are evaluated to determine what's going on with the body and where problem areas exist. 

Once the evaluation is complete, your physical therapist uses the findings to formulate a customized treatment plan. The plan consists of exercises, stretches, and other therapies that will help achieve personal goals and address current issues. 

Manual therapy is common in physical therapy, depending on the injury. This hands-on approach includes soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, and tissue manipulation to help decrease stiffness, increase blood flow and circulation, and restore proper range of motion. 

In addition, expect exercise therapy. A physical therapist will lead you through necessary exercises that build core strength, stability, balance, and flexibility, especially in the surrounding musculature, to help support the spine over time. 

Pain relief treatments may also occur throughout your sessions. Ice or heat may be applied, electrical stimulation may occur, or dry needling may be employed to encourage decreased inflammation, relaxed muscle tightness, and comfortable movement. 

Finally, education is vital during physical therapy for back pain. Body mechanics will be a focus to teach you how to lift correctly and avoid any movements that exacerbate back pain or injury. Daily habits will also be highlighted as reminders of what to avoid moving forward for back health.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Back Pain 

There are many benefits of physical therapy for back pain, including; 

1 - Faster Healing 

Therapy is a great way to facilitate the body's natural healing processes. Whether using manual therapy, stretches and exercises, or even agents like ultrasound or electrical stimulation, a trained physical therapist can increase blood flow, decrease swelling and inflammation, and encourage tissue healing. 

Therefore, therapy can quickly relieve pain by addressing the source of the pain or injury and helping the body heal that point more efficiently and quickly than it can on its own. 

2 - Reduces Pain Without Medication 

One of the most crucial benefits of physical therapy for back pain is the ability to manage and reduce pain without medication. Dry needling, massage, joint mobilization, and physical exercises relieve tension and improve range of motion while simultaneously stimulating the body's natural endorphins. 

This therapeutic approach is excellent for those wishing to avoid anti-inflammatories or pain medications that may ultimately cause adverse side effects or addictive tendencies when used for extended periods. 

3 - Enhances Your Mobility 

Everyone experiences movement every day. Physical therapy for back pain helps facilitate better mobility and flexibility. As part of a post-operative therapy program or after incurring an injury or chronic condition, your therapist will slowly introduce stretches and exercises based on personal limitations. 

Ultimately, this increased range of motion will make walking, bending down, standing up, and going up and down stairs much easier and less painful in the long run. 

4 - Avoid Future Injuries 

An effective physical therapy protocol for back pain involves more than just treating the current injury. It also works preemptively to avoid future injuries. By assessing weakened or imbalanced muscles, improper movement patterns, and other traits that could lead to re-injury or chronic pain over time, your physical therapist will use corrective and strengthening exercises to deter future occurrences. 

Such education is invaluable as it teaches you how to avoid re-injury or chronic painful symptoms down the line. 

5 - Enhances Posture and Strength 

Posture and strength are significant contributing factors to back pain or other musculoskeletal issues. Physical therapy can help improve posture and balance by strengthening the core, increasing spinal alignment, and strengthening the muscles supporting posture. 

When to Visit a Physical Therapist in Aurora

Aurora residents suffering from excruciatingly painful back issues should book an appointment at a back pain therapy clinic sooner rather than later. The physical therapists at the nearby Aurora physical therapy clinic specialize in getting you back on your feet. 

You should seek therapy if:

• You've sustained an injury and currently have back pain
• You've had back surgery and need help with rehabilitation
• You've been searching for ways to prevent back pain without medication
• You don’t know how to treat back pain on your own

Conclusion

Lower back pain is never easy to deal with, especially when it's been caused by injuries, but you don't have to suffer alone. Proper guidance for back pain treatments, including lower back pain physical therapy, will have you stronger and back to your daily routine before you know it. 

If you're in the Aurora area, don't hesitate to contact the professional clinic to begin your healing process today.