Occasional back pain is a normal part of life, especially as you get older. However, it’s not necessary to contact your doctor every time you have a sore back. You can manage most minor forms of back pain with some pain medication and a couple of days of rest.
Severe back pain, though, is another story. Long-lasting and extreme back pain may be the sign of a serious condition that requires medical treatment. Pain tolerance is subjective from person to person, so the question that may be on your mind is, “How do I know if my back pain needs treatment?” Well, to get the answer to that question, you need to look at the symptoms first.
Symptoms of serious conditions that need professional back pain treatment
Back pain can be related to a variety of conditions. Some of these conditions, such as sciatica, can be serious, and you’ll know your issue is serious if you have symptoms like:
- Fever
- Numbness in the back or legs
- Tingling and weakness in the back or legs
- Pain spreading into one or both of your legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Uncontrollable weight loss
The conditions that cause these kinds of symptoms aren’t likely to go away on their own. These can include arthritis, fractures, herniated discs and other spinal conditions. It’s important that you get help from a health care professional to keep your condition from getting worse or even developing into a permanent disability.
Treating chronic back pain
Back pain treatments vary depending on the cause and severity of your condition. One option that can be beneficial for people with serious back pain is physical therapy. Physical therapists can help reduce back pain and treat the issue that’s causing it. These specialists will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to help you meet your recovery goals.
A few of the therapy techniques that may be included in your personalized treatment plan include:
- Manual therapy — This category of therapy is also called hands-on therapy. Often, a patient with serious back issues has trouble moving normally. Using their hands, your physical therapist can help you move in ways you may not be able to on your own. Additionally, they can use their hands to stretch, mobilize and manipulate joints or soft tissue in your back.
- Aquatic therapy — This technique is also known as water-based therapy. It takes place in a heated pool. Your physical therapist will use the natural qualities of water to ensure that you’re better supported during therapy movements. These qualities can also help reduce stress on your spine.
- McKenzie Method® — The McKenzie Method therapy method involves three basic steps: evaluation, education and treatment. Your physical therapist will evaluate your back to determine the source of your pain. Then, they will educate you about the back problem you’re dealing with and the treatment options available for it. Finally, your physical therapist will show you how to perform relevant therapy exercises and perform other treatments on you.
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy offers top-notch back pain treatment
Are you suffering from chronic and severe back pain? Our therapy specialists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy are ready to help you reduce your pain and prevent future pain. We’ll start by performing a free screening on you to reveal the cause of your back pain. Then, our team will build you an individualized back pain treatment plan designed to reduce your pain and prevent it from coming back.
Not able to leave home to get our help? No problem! We offer several therapy services so you can get therapy from home, including virtual therapy and at-home care.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you with back pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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