A back pain problem can be incredibly debilitating, making it difficult to carry out even the most basic daily tasks like walking, bending over, sitting and sleeping. If you have back pain that isn’t improving with at-home treatments such as heat, ibuprofen or massage, it may be time to see your doctor or go see a North Sydney chiropractor for help finding the cause of your pain and creating a tailored treatment plan that enables you to return to what you love doing. Here are a few questions you should ask your doctor or chiropractor before you start any new back pain treatment regimen.
What Are Common Causes Of Back Pain?
Back pain is extremely common and can be caused by many things. You may experience temporary back pain when lifting heavy objects, but most cases are linked to overuse of muscles or strained ligaments. Injuries such as slipped discs, muscle spasms and sciatic nerve problems can also cause severe long-term back ache. That’s why seeking professional help from a chiropractor or physio North Sydney is essential when trying to figure out how to get rid of your back pain once and for all. A good therapist will want to know about your lifestyle, including any activities that could be contributing to your back pain. This information will help them determine which treatments will work best for you. For example, if you have a physically demanding job or play sport regularly, then treatment that focuses on strengthening weak muscles and stretching tight ones might be more beneficial than deep tissue massage.
How Does It Affect Your Daily Life?
The number one question to start with is how does it affect your daily life? No two backs are alike, and so no two treatment plans are either. Yours might be caused by an old injury (you may remember how it happened) that has flared up, or something else entirely—like sitting on a desk all day. You don’t need to have sought professional advice yet—this is just an early warning sign of what could come next.
What Can You Do On Your Own?
There are certain areas of treatment that you can do on your own, like getting regular exercise to strengthen muscles, and staying hydrated to keep them limber. However, there are plenty of things that require medical attention. When dealing with an injury or chronic pain, it’s best to seek help from a professional rather than try to go it alone. Specifically when it comes to lower back problems.
When Can You Start Physical Therapy or See A Chiropractor?
After an injury, it’s important to seek treatment within 48 hours. In some cases, patients begin to see improvement after just two sessions. If you are dealing with chronic back pain and haven’t seen improvement from at-home treatments such as stretching and heat/ice application, it may be time to book an appointment with a specialist in physical therapy or chiropractic care. Keep in mind that these conditions usually require ongoing care, which is especially true for acute injuries.
