Lower back pain (LBP) is a pretty common ailment that many people deal with. Some skeptics believe that a needle and a pill bottle are always the answer to anything and everything involving pain. However there is evidence to question these beliefs for individuals suffering from LBP. A new study from the American College of Physicians (ACP) suggests that LBP will for the most part begin to improve over time, regardless of the treatment that’s given. This study also suggests that physical therapy holds an even stronger cure for those suffering from LBP than any medications.
These facts are a pretty big deal for patients dealing with and doctors treating LBP. The tug-of-war over medicines versus therapeutic treatments when dealing with LBP has remained for some time. But a revision to the guidelines recommends that non-pharmacologic treatments should now be the first defense against acute, subacute and chronic types of LBP.
This research comes from tests which have shown that antidepressants and acetaminophen performed no better than placebos in conquering pain.
These new guidelines are a big win for physical therapists who’ve cast aside many medicines, opting instead for therapeutic rehabilitation. These guidelines make clear that patients with LBP should now use a combination of exercise and maintenance of daily activities to aid in the eradication of their pain.
Even for patients who have tried physical therapy and still suffer, there isn’t a ringing endorsement for pills. The referenced guidelines make only a “weak” endorsement for non steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAID) as a line of therapy. Authors stated that drugs should only be used “if the potential benefits outweigh the risks for individual patients…”
The proof is clear: understanding the biomechanics of how the spine and the surrounding musculature works makes a substantive impact on the wellness and quality of life for those with LBP.
If you are living in and around the Upper West Side with LBP and wondering where to turn for treatment, wonder no more. Miccass Physical Therapy has been treating patients with all manner of pain for some time. If you have lower back pain or any other type of ailment for which physical therapy is a suggested avenue, our standout team of doctors and aides at Miccass Physical Therapy are ready and able to help. Give us a call today and see if we can’t make your lower back pain a thing of the past.
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