Are you afraid your low back pain may eventually result in surgery? Chances are, you don’t need to be.
Nearly all cases of low back pain, or lumbar degenerative disc disease, a common cause of low back pain (LBP), can be treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs without having to resort to surgical intervention, according to a review in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
“Patients are relieved at the results they get after we treat them and teach the appropriate exercises,” said Donald J. Novak, P.T., D.P.T., owner of Amber Hill Physical Therapy. “Too often, people turn to surgery as a “cure-all”, but patients find it very satisfying to know that working their body correctly is something that that they can control.”
Strengthening core muscle groups, including the abdominal wall and lumbar musculature, helps relieve lower back pain. Amber Hill therapists will recommend exercises that focus especially on motor control. The goal is for patients to regain control of their trunk muscles (also known as the transversus abdominis and multifidus) which support and control the spine. Therapists teach patients exercises that isolate and “switch on” these muscles and incorporate these movements into their normal activities.
Symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc disease develops when a disc weakens (often due to repetitive strain), is injured, or deteriorates from aging. As a result, the disc is unable to hold the vertebrae as it should and the lack of stability can cause back pain.
Approximately 75 to 85 percent of adults will be affected by low back pain during their lifetimes.
Talk to your physical therapist or check out Amber Hill’s services to see the types of common back injuries our staff treats.
