Low Back Pain Rehabilitation
Developing a Program That's Right For You
Information is readily available on the way to stop back pain. The
challenge is to tailor it to the particular patient. For example, it's often
said that swimming is good for the back. But which stroke? And how often?
Strengthening the abdominal muscles is also commonly ordered for low back
pain. But how is this done? And are you exercising the right way for your back
injury? The list goes on: cold or hot applications, rest or activity?
What Kinds of Problems Might Cause Low Back Pain?
Treatment for any back condition is recommended as soon as possible to
minimize the danger of further aggravation. The following is a list of only
some of the conditions that may cause low back pain and is not a substitute
for a visit to your doctor:
Radiculopathy: A pinched nerve, also called sciatica, usually from a
herniated, or slipped, disk. This can cause a shooting pain down the leg that
s often described as an electrical feeling. Myofascial Pain Generally an
aching pain in muscles that tends to come from poor posture, sitting at a
computer, or other job-related tasks. With myofascial back pain the patient
can become sore in different parts of the body like the back and legs. Often
patients report that they have difficulty sleeping or feeling restored from
sleep.
Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the nerve openings either around the spinal
cord or nerve roots that can cause symptoms similar to a pinched nerve. It can
cause leg pain in anyone, but most often does so in older people. Patients
with spinal stenosis can have trouble walking, and the difficulty is usually
relieved by sitting down or bending forward. It can cause aching or heaviness
in the back and legs.
Tendon, Ligament and Soft Tissue Pain: Localized pain when an area is
stretched or its muscles are overused. This results in tenderness.
Non-Spinal Causes of Low Back Pain: Pain imitating a back injury, but from
another cause. Appendicitis, kidney disease, uterine disorders and urinary
tract infections are a few examples of problems that can refer pain to the
back.
Treatment Options
The rehabilitation of low back problems occurs in three phases. During the
first phase, called the acute phase, physiatrists treat pain and inflammation.
After they make a specific diagnosis and develop a treatment plan,
physiatrists may offer treatment options like ultrasound, electrical
stimulation, mobilization, medication, ice and even specialized injections.
In the second, or recovery, phase of treatment, flexibility and strength
are developed to get the body parts into their proper positions. The goal of
this phase is to get you back to your usual work, sports and leisure
activities. This goal is achieved through specially designed exercises that
rebuild the body.
The main goal of the third phase of treatment, the maintenance phase, is to
minimize recurrence of the problem and to prevent further injury. This often
consists of a total body fitness program, designed to maintain body mechanics
and increase endurance after the original symptoms have resolved.
These are very broad and general approaches to the treatment of low back
pain. The physiatrist that you choose will develop an individual treatment
plan for you.
Why a Physiatrist?
Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a medical specialty dedicated to
restoring optimal function to people with injuries. These physicians, called
physiatrists (fizz ee a' trists or fizz eye' uh trists), can treat problems as
simple as a sprained back or as complex as a spinal cord injury.
Physiatrists are specialists in diagnosing problems in the musculoskeletal
system. They perform thorough histories and physical examinations to find the
source of your pain, injury or disability, even when standard diagnostic tests
don t reveal specific problems.
In addition, physiatrists direct your treatment team. If you need any other
services, such as those of a physical therapist or athletic trainer, the
physiatrist super-vises, collaborates with and coordinates the other health
care professionals. The result is a specially designed treatment program
tailored for you.
Because they offer an aggressive, non-surgical approach to pain and injury,
physiatrists are the ideal choice for the treatment of low back pain.
Physiatrists are expert in examining all aspects of back problems--they can
even determine if there are underlying problems in other parts of your body
that are causing your low back pain. Most important, physiatrists have many
treatment methods available to reduce or eliminate your problems and to
decrease the possibility of a recurrence.
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2500
Chicago, Illinois 60611-7617
Phone (312) 464-9700
Fax (312) 464-0227
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