Are you one of the 80% of Americans experiencing low back pain? Are you frustrated with the pain that affects so many aspects of your life and keeps you from living the life you want to lead? If so, please read on to discover the WHY behind your low back pain and WHAT you can do to improve the quality of your life!

Problems in your low back can remain quiet for many years. But then, one day, the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back occurs and all of a sudden you are headed down the path of anxiety and fear that affects so many people. Why did this happen? What did I do to make this happen? These are two valid questions we will now answer.

Why Low Back Pain?

Why? If we know the why behind anything in life then we have greater control and power over the event, regardless of the event. So let’s talk about a few reasons why low back pain is so prevalent in today’s society.

Different structures in the low back can produce pain. The lumbar discs, facet joints (fancy name for joints that connect two vertebrae together), nerves, and muscle are all potential causes of low back pain. Yes there are others, there are always others, but to keep this simple let’s save discussion of cancer and infections for a different day.

Having been a physical therapist in musculoskeletal orthopedic care for over 27 years, I will focus on the lumbar disc as the main implicator in low back pain. I say this because the other structures I discussed above don’t have a fighting chance if the disc is going south (well, not literally traveling south, but you get the picture!). The lumbar disc is made up of cartilage. Well this is good and bad!

Good that cartilage absorbs shock and helps to keep stability in the low back. Bad that cartilage does NOT have blood supply. When trauma occurs to the disc, inflammation occurs, and pain occurs (the outer part of the disc DOES have a nerve supply). The lack of blood supply will mean very poor (if any) healing opportunity for the lumbar disc. 

After injury to the lumbar disc, a cascade of events can occur which affects the low back facet joints, the nerves, and the muscles that help to give support and stability to the low back. This is exactly why I said a few paragraphs ago I put the fault for the most part on the lumbar disc as the main originator of pain. But you should know that many studies have shown a bad looking disc on a MRI does NOT always equate to pain. Again, there are no absolutes when dealing with the human body.

Conclusion

But if you do have pain from the DISC, DO NOT have fear or anxiety. Know that you DO have options. One of the best proven treatments to decrease low back pain, improve mobility, and improve your level of physical function is by receiving skilled physical therapy care. A skilled physical therapist will perform a very specific evaluation. From the evaluation a detailed treatment plan will be developed to get you back (no pun intended!) on the right track.

iMove PT is here for you. Our advanced physical therapists will get you on the right track, all while you are in the safety and convenience of your own home. For more information, contact our Founder and Physical Therapist Dr. Michael Gorman at mgorman@imovephysicaltherapy.com or message him at (636) 578-3649.