People suffering in pain often wonder when they should seek care for back pain? Many will employ the wait and see approach. If not that, they will try “rest” and pain medication. From there, the next stage often involves a trip to a doctor and frequently a request for imaging. The issue there is two-fold. One, a doctor won’t offer much beyond what a person has already done. And two, imaging is most often unnecessary and can be harmful psychologically. By the time a person works their way through this approach often weeks have passed and the pain remains.

What is a better approach to seeking care for back pain?

The best approach is to skip all those unhelpful steps and move straight to visiting a back pain expert like a physical therapist. This expert will skillfully evaluation your problem and gain an understanding of your goals. From here, a personalized program will be developed to address the issues at hand and move you towards you goals.

Why should I start with a physical therapist, and don’t I need to see my doctor 1^st?

No, you do not need to see your doctor first. In fact most physical therapists now have their clinical doctorate…meaning they know how to properly evaluate a individual with back pain and refer out should any concerning findings arise (which is rare). Why start with PT? Because that is where a person with back pain is going to end up anyway…so why not jump right to that step?

Numerous studies on back pain have shown that treatment in the first six weeks speeds the recovery process. There is no need to even wait that long. In fact, the best plan is to call your physical therapist as soon as possible to speed up your recovery from back pain. And do not just stop once the pain has reduced. Make sure to fully address those concerns with strength, flexibility, mobility, and overall function. Lower the risk of recurrence of pain.

Got the picture now?

If you are struggling with thoughts of when to seek care for back pain…struggle no longer. Quickly reach out to an expert at treating back pain. There is no need to suffer one day more than you already have. To connect with a back pain expert, click the following LINK.