Back pain has been a serious cause of many employees losing time from work as well as millions of dollars spent on medical and health care costs. Back pain can be acute back pain or chronic back pain, with lower back pain being the most common. You can get many types of low back pain treatment in physical therapy.
Low back pain treatment in physical therapy is usually something the doctor will recommend after continuing pain for a week or two. When a doctor first sees a patient for back pain, he will usually try very conservative methods such as having the patient put ice or heat on the injured or sore area. In addition, they will recommend the patient take over-the-counter medications for pain and discomfort. They may recommend Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These medications not only will help to relieve the pain, but will also help with swelling and possible inflammation. The doctor will usually allow a week of this type of treatment before he advances it further.
If after a week or so, the pains haven’t subsided, the doctor will recommend more intense low back pain treatment. In physical therapy, your back will get physical manipulation, massages and exercise to start with. Before your therapist begins the treatments, he will determine where the pain is located in the back as well as what will make it tenderer. Knowing these things helps the therapist to give you the most effective type of treatment. The therapist may also use ultrasounds, heat, and ice packs. Many of these are used consecutively for the low back pain treatment in physical therapy.
Another important part of the low back pain treatment in physical therapy is preventative measures for the future well-being of your back. He will give you a list of exercises to strengthen the muscles in your hips and lower back as well as how to stretch them correctly without hurting them. You will be taught how to correctly lift heavy objects, bend properly and sit properly. What we often take for granted as simple things in life are things that we need to do correctly to avoid stress and strain in our bodies. Wearing improper shoes or boots on our feet can also cause back problems. The therapist will also teach the patient how to get adequate support for the neck and back while in a chair, bed, couch or car.
Many people choose acupuncture as a type of low back pain treatment. In physical therapy, you will be a lot of relief from the pain, but not usually the first visit. Acupuncture, which is the insertion of little needles in the area of pain often brings quicker relief from the pain.