You wake up on Monday morning and begin to roll out of bed when you realize that you can’t get up. Where did this back pain come from? Many people panic when they encounter sudden or severe back pain and assume that surgery is the only answer to cure the problem.
Surgery, however, is not the only option for back pain and often does not fix the problem at all. Before seeking a surgeon, physical therapy can often keep you from going under the knife.
UAMS physical therapist M.J. Orellano says that back pain, which is actually a common symptom, often can be treated with therapy.
“Just because you have back pain doesn’t mean you need surgery,” she says. “Surgery is usually indicated where pain is irretractable or you begin to lose function such as having a dropped foot or muscle weakness that doesn’t subside with treatment.”
Orellano says that with therapy pain can be reduced, motion can be restored and you can be fully functioning again.
Conditions that commonly require surgery include: bone deformities such as Scoliosis, bone fractures, ruptured disks and broken or fractured bones. When experiencing any sort of chronic or severe pain, consult your doctor as soon as possible for the right treatment option for you.