Most people who have back pain wonder if there is some serious disease that's going on inside of them.
Many times people leave their doctor's offices frustrated and unsatisfied because they don't feel as though their doctor believes them when they complain of back pain.
"Do you think I'm crazy?", or, "Do you think it's all in my head?" are two of the questions that I am asked most frequently by the patients that come straight to my office after a visit to their doctor.
I have to do a lot of convincing, but, I usually am able to let them know that I believe them when they tell me that they have nagging and sometimes excruciating back pain.
A follow up question goes something like this: "Why doesn't the doctor believe me?".
I use that question as a chance to tell them that "muscle strains don't show up on x-rays or MRI reports.
" I also have to assure them that, it's not that the doctor doesn't believe you, it's that your doctor isn't sure how to help you.
That's why people are generally referred to see a physical therapist.
Most cases of low back pain are nothing more than muscle strains.
This happens because one group of muscles are too tight while another group of muscles may be relatively weak.
When you have this combination (and most people do who sit most of their waking hours) the slightest thing can trigger a back spasm like you've never felt before.
The reason for this is simple.
Your body, like the rest of the natural world, is meant to be in balance.
Pain is nothing more than your body's attempt to let you know that something is wrong, out of balance.
If you put your hand on a hot stove, you feel the heat and it registers as pain.
But, what your body is telling you is simply "Hey, the outside of your hand is hotter than the inside.
That's not right.
The temperature is out of balance.
You better move it before something bad happens.
" Your body is working to keep everything in balance 24/7/365.
Even while you are sleeping.
Most of the stuff it's working on you have no idea about because it's done automatically.
However, the muscles are something that's not automatic.
You do have control over them and so when one is tighter than another or weaker than another it registers with you a lot sooner because you feel it when you bend over to tie your shoe or lift something heavy.
Since your muscles' being out of balance is the cause of your pain, it follows then that when you restore balance to your muscular system, you will relieve your pain.
That's what happens when you go on a stretching program or a strengthening program.
You stretch tight muscles and you strengthen weak muscles.
You get your body back in balance.
The problem I see with many of the patients that come to me for help is that they really aren't sure of what they are trying to accomplish.
There are so many muscles that can cause or contribute to back pain that it can get kind of confusing when you're trying to sort it out.
Another problem that I see is that my patients are confused about exactly what needs strengthening and what needs stretching.
Many times people have strengthened when they should have stretched and vice versa, and the problem just gets worse.
What I find myself doing much of the time is educating people as to what areas of the body that are contributing to their pain and limitations.
After we identify these areas, we figure out which muscles are out of balance and then what approach is the best to return the whole low back musculature to a healthy balance.
Once my patients get a good grasp of what we are doing most of them feel totally relieved and empowered because they can take charge of their back pain rather than it controlling them.
So, if you are one of these who suffer from back pain.
Don't give up.
Do some research and find a good program or therapist that addresses your needs and helps your muscles get back in balance.
Many times people leave their doctor's offices frustrated and unsatisfied because they don't feel as though their doctor believes them when they complain of back pain.
"Do you think I'm crazy?", or, "Do you think it's all in my head?" are two of the questions that I am asked most frequently by the patients that come straight to my office after a visit to their doctor.
I have to do a lot of convincing, but, I usually am able to let them know that I believe them when they tell me that they have nagging and sometimes excruciating back pain.
A follow up question goes something like this: "Why doesn't the doctor believe me?".
I use that question as a chance to tell them that "muscle strains don't show up on x-rays or MRI reports.
" I also have to assure them that, it's not that the doctor doesn't believe you, it's that your doctor isn't sure how to help you.
That's why people are generally referred to see a physical therapist.
Most cases of low back pain are nothing more than muscle strains.
This happens because one group of muscles are too tight while another group of muscles may be relatively weak.
When you have this combination (and most people do who sit most of their waking hours) the slightest thing can trigger a back spasm like you've never felt before.
The reason for this is simple.
Your body, like the rest of the natural world, is meant to be in balance.
Pain is nothing more than your body's attempt to let you know that something is wrong, out of balance.
If you put your hand on a hot stove, you feel the heat and it registers as pain.
But, what your body is telling you is simply "Hey, the outside of your hand is hotter than the inside.
That's not right.
The temperature is out of balance.
You better move it before something bad happens.
" Your body is working to keep everything in balance 24/7/365.
Even while you are sleeping.
Most of the stuff it's working on you have no idea about because it's done automatically.
However, the muscles are something that's not automatic.
You do have control over them and so when one is tighter than another or weaker than another it registers with you a lot sooner because you feel it when you bend over to tie your shoe or lift something heavy.
Since your muscles' being out of balance is the cause of your pain, it follows then that when you restore balance to your muscular system, you will relieve your pain.
That's what happens when you go on a stretching program or a strengthening program.
You stretch tight muscles and you strengthen weak muscles.
You get your body back in balance.
The problem I see with many of the patients that come to me for help is that they really aren't sure of what they are trying to accomplish.
There are so many muscles that can cause or contribute to back pain that it can get kind of confusing when you're trying to sort it out.
Another problem that I see is that my patients are confused about exactly what needs strengthening and what needs stretching.
Many times people have strengthened when they should have stretched and vice versa, and the problem just gets worse.
What I find myself doing much of the time is educating people as to what areas of the body that are contributing to their pain and limitations.
After we identify these areas, we figure out which muscles are out of balance and then what approach is the best to return the whole low back musculature to a healthy balance.
Once my patients get a good grasp of what we are doing most of them feel totally relieved and empowered because they can take charge of their back pain rather than it controlling them.
So, if you are one of these who suffer from back pain.
Don't give up.
Do some research and find a good program or therapist that addresses your needs and helps your muscles get back in balance.
Source...