Is My Back Pain Normal?
Back pain is one of the most common complaints to doctors and is a leading cause of work-loss days. Sadly, a painful back often brings limitation to social and physical activity and 1 in 3 people claim that it has an impact on their daily life. Around 80% of Americans will experience problems with their back at some point in life and it’s more common in women than men, but the good news is that it can often be treated.
How do you know if you should seek treatment? Sometimes, you just wake up with a sore back. Maybe you slept on it wrong or worked out differently than usual. Sometimes it goes away as we “warm up” throughout the morning and others it can last for a few days at a time. If your pain persists past a few weeks, spreads down one or both legs, or causes weakness, numbness, or tingling, you should contact us so that our pain specialists can assess your situation and prescribe a plan of treatment designated specifically for you.
Why is the back so commonly problematic? It’s complicated! Literally. Your back is a very complex structure made up of 33 vertebrae, (5 of which are fused in your sacrum and 4 fused in the coccyx or “tailbone”), 23 discs, 31 pairs of spinal nerves, dozens of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There’s a lot going on back there! So don’t leave it to chance that it will work itself out if you’re suffering pain.
What are some of the causes of back pain? Back pain can be attributed to weaknesses or imbalances in the development of your muscles or it may stem from repeated incorrect movement patterns that developed over time, usually in order to compensate for a prior problem. Some pain problems might originate from pressure on a nerve or an incompletely healed injury. Poor posture, osteoarthritis, strains, and sprains are some of the many potential issues with which our physical therapy doctors are trained to work.
What can you do to prevent back pain? All of the tips that apply to health in general also keep your back healthy and strong. Make sure you are drinking enough water and getting enough quality sleep. Quit smoking. Back pain risk actually increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, so don’t smoke any. Building muscular strength and flexibility helps support your back, so exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Our physical therapists can tailor a fitness plan for your level and optimally train you with it. They can also teach you how to sit and stand with proper posture so as to not place undue strain on your back.
Back pain may be common, but it doesn’t have to be tolerated. Pain-masking drugs and invasive surgeries are not the only options. Our non-surgical joint and back pain specialists have the tools, skills, knowledge, and experience to assist you with pain and to correct dysfunction to help you resume a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida is conveniently located in Bradenton and serves all of Manatee and Sarasota. Call us at (941) 264-1414, email us, or fill out our online message form today!