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When to Consult a Doctor About Lower Back Pain

Updated: Jun 24, 2021

To say that lower back pain is common would be an understatement. Lower back torment influences 80% of grown-ups in the United States eventually during their lives and it's one of the main sources of missed workdays. While many cases of lower back pain resolve themselves with time, there are situations in which medical intervention is a good idea.




Deciding when you could use pain management in Staten Island is largely up to you, but there are a few good rules of thumb to help you decide. If you see yourself in any of the following four situations, come in and see us for an evaluation of your back pain.


Pain that doesn’t go away


This first point may seem obvious, but allow us to explain further. Of the 80% of people who experience lower back pain, 20% develop chronic problems.

Some of the more common causes of lower back pain include herniated discs and muscle strains, which typically resolve themselves within six weeks.

If you find yourself still struggling after six weeks, this is a clear sign that you could benefit from one of our many pain-relieving therapies.


As well, if your pain is persistent and plagues you at night when you lie down, it’s a good idea to have us take a look. New U Physical Therapy helps you to resolve your pain problems by physiotherapy.


Back pain treatment through physiotherapy is considered the most popular non-surgical treatment and is often attempted by patients suffering from herniated/bulging discs, strained muscles, ligaments, and joints, or affected by combined injuries. Poor postural habits may also be one of the primary causes of back pain causing long-term damage to the spine. These conditions may become exacerbated and lead to a negative impact on the entire body.


Symptoms that indicate nerve involvement


Pain in your lower back can often lead to symptoms that radiate down into your legs, such as pain, numbness, and tingling. If these symptoms persist for more than a week, it’s usually a good idea to have us check you out so that we can determine the extent of the nerve involvement.

Please note that if you experience bladder or bowel dysfunction as one of your symptoms, this can be very serious and you should seek our help as soon as possible.


Balance issues or trouble with walking


If your lower back pain is accompanied by problems with your gait or balance, we urge you to come to see us sooner rather than later.


It’s your call


When it comes to lower back pain, you’re the final judge as to whether you need treatment. Our feeling is that if your pain is moderate to severe and you’re having trouble functioning normally, you’d do well to have us take a look. At a minimum, we can help you find relief, and on the off chance the problem is serious, we can intervene quickly.

If you want to consult our physical therapist, you can visit our website New U Physical Therapy, or call us at 718-502-5271.

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