Early Diagnosis and Treatment of 
Back Pain Is Key to Preventing Recurrence

It is estimated that 80% of Americans will experience low back pain some time during their lives. Many of these people will choose to delay treatment hoping the pain will go away. Procrastination is not the best avenue to take when experiencing back pain, say specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).

It is extremely important to treat low back pain at the onset in order to avoid aggravation and compounding the problem. Untreated low back pain can cause changes in your posture, gait, and bearing that may in turn worsen the problem or cause new ones. PM&R physicians, also called physiatrists, are medical specialists dedicated to restoring or maximizing function and self-sufficiency in patients who have physical disability resulting from injury or chronic illness.

Not all back pain is caused by muscle or nerve conditions. There are many different possible causes of back pain such as appendicitis, kidney disease, or urinary tract infections. Back pain can be an early warning sign for one of these more serious conditions that can be effectively treated if caught early on. That's why it's important to see a PM&R physician soon after pain develops.

While every case of low back pain is unique, many are remedied with non-surgical treatments supported by a regime of exercises to strengthen the back and prevent recurrence of the condition.