Q&A for How to Get Rid of Bad Back Pain

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How do you know when back pain is serious?

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Jason Myerson is a Physical Therapist and a Certified Orthopedic Specialist. He is affiliated with Performance Physical Therapy & Wellness with clinics located in Connecticut. He serves as adjunct faculty in the Physical Therapy Department at Quinnipiac University. Jason specializes in helping active people get back to hobbies, activities, and sports they love while utilizing an integrated approach to wellness. He holds an MA in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Arcadia University. He is Residency and Fellowship trained in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, achieved a Doctorate in Manual Therapy (DMT) and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist

Expert Answer

Back pain is very common—it occurs in at least 60% of the population at some point in their life, and in most cases, it will go away on its own. However, contact your doctor right away if you experience any numbness, tingling, or progressive weakness in your lower extremities, if you can't stand up, or if you're having any changes in your bowel or your bladder.

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Question

What can stop your back from hurting?

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

Moving around is ideal if you can do so without causing too much pain. The more you can move around, the better it will be for your back. Even walking is going to be good for you!

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Question

How can I prevent a bulging disc?

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Dr. Karen Litzy, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, international speaker, owner of Karen Litzy Physical Therapy, PLLC, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy & Smart podcast. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in a comprehensive approach to practicing physical therapy utilizing therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, pain education, and home exercise programs. Karen holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Misericordia University. Karen is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is an official spokesperson for the APTA as a member of their media corps. She lives and works in New York City.

Karen Litzy, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

As far as I know, you can't. Bulging discs are just one of those things that happen naturally over time. If you took 20 people off of the street and gave them an MRI, you would probably find 4-5 bulging discs and those people wouldn't even know. It's not necessarily a dangerous thing on its own, but the more you can move around, the better.

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Question

When should I be concerned about back pain?

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Jason Myerson is a Physical Therapist and a Certified Orthopedic Specialist. He is affiliated with Performance Physical Therapy & Wellness with clinics located in Connecticut. He serves as adjunct faculty in the Physical Therapy Department at Quinnipiac University. Jason specializes in helping active people get back to hobbies, activities, and sports they love while utilizing an integrated approach to wellness. He holds an MA in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Arcadia University. He is Residency and Fellowship trained in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, achieved a Doctorate in Manual Therapy (DMT) and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist

Expert Answer

If you experience numbness, tingling, severe pain, or difficulty going to the bathroom, contact a doctor right away. You should also see a doctor if you're feeling sick overall in addition to your back pain or if you've had a history of cancer.

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Question

How can I stop waking up with back pain?

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT
Physical Therapist
Jarod Carter is a Physical Therapist, Consultant, and the Owner of Carter Physiotherapy, a manual physical therapy clinic in Austin, Texas focused on manual therapy as well as telehealth services to resolve pain and injuries. Dr. Carter has over 15 years of professional physical therapy experience. He received a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and an MTC (Manual Therapy Certification) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Carter also holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jarod Carter, DPT, CMT

Physical Therapist

Expert Answer

To start with, try sleeping in different positions, like on your side or with a pillow under your thighs. If your back pain persists for a long period of time, it might be worth considering trying out a new mattress and investing in a new one.

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