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Atlanta Spine Clinic, Author at Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedic - Page 2 of 2

Locations

Conyers office - Get directions

Decatur office- Get directions

Surgery Center - Get directions

McDonough office: - Get directions

Sandy Springs office: - Get directions

Make an Appointment

Or call: 678-369-6934

Send us an email

Recovering from Back Surgery: What You Should Know

Posted on by Atlanta Spine Clinic

The success of your spinal treatment depends heavily on how well you adhere to your orthopedic surgeon’s recovery plan. While the earliest stages of recovering from back surgery involve heavy restrictions against bending, lifting, twisting — even driving — those first few days post-op look much different than just a few weeks (and especially a few months) later.

The closer you follow your personalized recommendations, the more likely you will experience dramatic reductions in pain and other associated symptoms. You should also see significant improvement in the ability to participate in day-to-day activities over time. Upon full recovery, most of Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic’s patients are able to return to work and pre-surgery activities as normal. 

That said, it is important to maintain realistic expectations about what recovery looks like for you, how long it will take to get there, and what you need to do to ensure it happens.

What to Expect When Recovering from Back Surgery

Regardless of the type of back surgery you have, there are some basic first-aid maintenance and hygienic practice requirements that must be met in order to ensure your best recovery. 

Basic First-Aid Maintenance

Your surgeon will cover the exact protocol in watching, cleaning, and dressing your wound, but typically your initial bandage or tape will come off within the first week to 10 days after surgery. After that, most patients are allowed to remove the bandaging themselves. 

Signs of Infection

You may feel numbness, soreness, or mild pain around the incision site, and there may be a bit of swelling and redness. This is all normal. Keep the area clean and dry as prescribed by your doctor. Signs you’re looking for during your daily care routine are: 

  • Increased redness, swelling, or drainage of excess fluid
  • If the skin feels warm to the touch
  • Whether the incision appears to be reopening

These are all signals of infection, and you need to reach out to your surgeon immediately for advice. 

Advice Worth Repeating: DON’T SMOKE!

Smoking and using tobacco products significantly slows your body’s natural healing process. This can be especially troublesome for those recovering from more serious procedures — including fusions and grafts.

Pain Management

In addition to keeping the area clean and healthy, you may also need to manage varying levels of pain throughout the recovery process. That first prescription your surgeon writes at the hospital? Fill it immediately so you have something on hand. 

When you have an activity planned that might cause significant pain (physical therapy, for instance), take the medicine about 30 minutes prior to start time. 

Physical Activity

Once those two areas of recovery are addressed, it’s time to think about how physical activity may affect your recovery plan. You’re going to initially need to change how you do things. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • How long you sit or stand
  • The position(s) you sleep in
  • Whether and when you can resume sexual activity

Plan on needing physical assistance for nearly every task — even getting out of the bed, getting dressed, and using the restroom — at least in the beginning.

General Rules of Acceptable Physical Activity

Initially, there are very few activities you should be doing while recovering from back surgery. In good time though, a good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to activities that meet the following criteria: 

  • Activities that do not cause pain
  • Motions that do not jar the spine 
  • Movements that do not require extreme ranges of motion

Basically, if it doesn’t feel good on your back, you shouldn’t be doing it right now — or really ever. 

No Pain, No… Pain

This includes the kind of pain that doesn’t surface until a few hours to a few days later. Stay in tune with how your spine feels as you move through your day to ensure proper protection and care. 

Avoid Jarring the Spine

Depending on the location of your surgery site and severity of the condition, barred activities can range from simply riding in a car or walking to heavy running and jumping. 

Stay within a Safe Range of Motion

Note that when talking about an extreme range of motion, the word “extreme” can easily be within the confines of “normal” human range of motion right now. It depends on your personal circumstances and recovery needs.

Over time, your customized treatment plan may include walking up 1-2 miles a day and/or incorporate a physical therapy program. If you have specific questions about what you should or should not be doing while recovering from back surgery, contact your spinal clinic.

In the meantime, there are a few general tips for speedy healing that apply to every spine surgery patient in recovery.

Four Tips for Ensuring Your Best Back Surgery Recovery

The professionals at Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic have treated thousands of patients suffering from debilitating back pain. The answer for many has been some type of minimally invasive surgery. 

From our vast pool of experience, we’ve developed a sense of what our patients have done to achieve a speedier, more successful recovery. 

Listen to Your Body

You had back surgery. This is a big deal. Your body is working hard to ensure the safety and well-being of one of the most vulnerable parts of your vital systems. Trust yourself. Honor your body’s fatigue. Take things slowly. Rest often. We promise it will help. 

Put Needless Worry on a Shelf

Oftentimes, we get calls from patients very early on in surgical recovery. Understandably, they are worried about pains or tingling sensations in unexpected places. They are afraid the surgery didn’t work, and that they went through the experience for nothing. 

Here’s the thing. This isn’t the same as getting Lasik, where you wake up the next morning with 20/20 vision. Keep calling. Keep asking. All of that is perfectly okay. It helps us keep a close watch on signs of real trouble. But we also want to say now — it takes time. Chances are, everything you’re feeling is normal. 

Ask for and Accept Offered Help

When you researched and planned for this surgery, we imagine you weren’t thinking you would go it alone. In fact, here at Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic, we recommend at every step that you have a trusted network of family and friends to help. Use them. 

If a family member says they want to stay with you and take care of you, let them. If friends ask to bring food over or to help around your home, say yes! And when your doctor prescribes temporary assist devices like a cane or back brace, use them as prescribed.  

Stay the Course on Your Recovery

For the next few months, at least, you may experience good and not-so-good days. That is how recovering from back surgery feels. Remember, you have just come out of a procedure that, no matter how minimally invasive, required surgical manipulation of tissues that touch, house, and protect some of your most vital organs. 

Take care of yourself through recovery in order to maximize the benefits of such a huge decision as back surgery. By staying the course with your surgical professional’s recovery plan, and trusting your body’s internal process, you’re sure to get back to a sense of normalcy soon enough — you’ve already come this far! 

Six Types of Minimally Invasive Back Surgery and What They Treat

Posted on by Atlanta Spine Clinic

The notion of undergoing back surgery can be a frightening one. This makes sense especially for those who aren’t aware of the broad advances made in spinal treatment procedures in just a few short years. 

Spinal surgery today, more often than not, is a minimally invasive option that can treat a variety of different (and painful) conditions, and offers limited exposure and shorter recovery periods.   

In fact, there are six common back surgery procedures offered right here at Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic. Learn more about them, and find out how you can tell whether this might be a treatment option for you. First, though, a bit on minimally invasive spine surgery in general.

What Is “Minimally Invasive” Spine Surgery?

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) actually just refers to the techniques now used routinely for most back surgery procedures. Spinal professionals also refer to it as “endoscopic surgery” because it involves vastly smaller incisions to perform surgical procedures that used to require open back surgery. 

This is made possible in large part due to advancements in surgical instrument technology. Using specialized retractors, video instruments, and surgical equipment, we now have greater visibility through small incisions and are able to perform even the most complex treatments such as vertebrae fusion and spinal cord work. 

It is a new — and better — way for back surgeons to offer treatment to those suffering from chronic conditions and pain with reduced risk and a number of new benefits.

The Cascading Benefits of Endoscopic Spinal Procedures

All the benefits of endoscopic spinal procedures lead to a single overarching benefit — less trauma when fixing your back. Here are some of the specific reasons this is true:

Smaller Incision Site 

Usually, the incision site is around an inch in diameter. If you know someone who’s had back surgery in the past, you understand that many procedures previously called for nearly filleting a patient down the spine. No more.

Less Trauma to the Tissue 

Smaller incisions naturally mean less tissue being traumatized as surgeons navigate the length of the spine to perform the delicate and precise corrections our patients need. 

Lower Levels of Blood Loss

Less trauma to the tissue equates to less blood loss, too. When you lose blood during surgery, it can present a whole host of other issues entirely unrelated to the condition you’ve come in to correct. 

Reduced Down Time 

Smaller incision sites also mean fewer pain receptors are traumatized and there is less work for your body to do to heal. This means recovery time is accelerated overall (and scarring is reduced, too). 

These facts mean you can get back to your normal life faster. The cascading benefits of smaller incisions make it possible to perform procedures like herniated or bulging disc repairs, vertebrae fusions, and bone spur removal with much less risk and easier recovery.  

There are actually six common back surgery treatments available through minimally invasive methods today. 

Compression Fracture Repairs

Known as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, these procedures are options that allow repairs to be made on compression fractures commonly resulting from conditions related to osteoporosis. 

Essentially, the treatment requires a bone cement to be applied to the fractured area where it will harden, ultimately strengthening the vertebrae.  

Spinal Stenosis Decompression

When spinal stenosis is present, the spinal canal has been narrowed, usually by obstructions like bone spurs. This condition can result in pain or areas of numbness or weakness. 

The procedure to correct this issue is known as a spinal laminectomy or spinal decompression. Your surgeon’s goal is to open up the spinal column and free it up from any obstructions in order to release pressure on your nerves.

Herniated Disc Removal

Often when patients come in for conditions involving compressed nerves, a herniated disc is the culprit. So laminectomies (described above) are often performed in conjunction with what’s known as a discectomy. 

This is the medical term for the removal of a herniated disc pressing on nerve roots in the spinal column or on the spinal cord itself. 

Spinal Canal Enlargement

In some cases, a disc hasn’t actually become herniated but is simply “bulging” into the walls of your spinal canal. Also important to recognize, many patients experience a natural thickening of the vertebrae when compression is left untreated. This is your body’s attempt at providing your nerves with added protection. 

In either situation, your surgeon can enter the spinal canal endoscopically and enlarge the bony hole at the site of the affected nerve root to relieve pain and pressure on it.  

Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion procedures are used to relieve symptoms of a variety of painful conditions including, but not limited to:

  • Chronic neck and back pain
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Recurrent herniated discs
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal instability (like spondylolisthesis)
  • Traumatic fractures
  • Tumors and other infections

The procedure requires the removal of spinal discs between vertebrae and then fusing the two then-adjacent vertebrae with grafted bone or metal plates secured with screws. Spinal fusion surgery is typically used as a last resort as it requires a longer recovery period than other procedures in order for bone grafts to grow and fuse the bones together. 

Artificial Disc Replacement

When patients suffer severe damage to their discs, there is an alternative consideration to spinal fusion surgery for artificial disc replacement. The procedure is exactly what it sounds like. The damaged disc is removed and replaced with a synthetic one in order to restore both height and movement between your vertebrae.

Are You Considering Endoscopic Back Surgery?

Here at Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic, no matter the level of invasiveness, we always use back surgery as a final option. However, when you’ve managed a chronic condition for years, and find that the current treatments available are no longer effective, you may want to consider your surgical options.

Contact us to schedule a consultation and let an experienced spinal specialist review your case. We will help you navigate the best options for your condition and health circumstances. 

And if it makes the most sense to move forward with back surgery, you’re in good hands with our renowned spine surgeon, an expert in endoscopic, minimally invasive spine surgery techniques! 

Neck Pain: Options for Treating It

Posted on by Atlanta Spine Clinic

Neck pain is more than just an annoyance. It’s a major cause of morbidity and disability in the U.S. and around the world. Research has found that severe neck pain can affect your physical, social, and psychological well-being.  

And neck pain is on the rise in the U.S. — particularly in those aged 20 and over. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that as many as one in three people experiences neck pain each year. That number is higher among women and the elderly.

Here’s the good news: there are a number of effective options for treating neck pain, depending on the severity of the issue. Determining the best treatment for neck pain, however, may depend on the cause and other factors. 

Below we have covered some basic information about treating neck pain, including causes, symptoms, treatment tips, and preventative measures. For advice specific to your situation, contact the Atlanta Spine Clinic.

What Is Neck Pain? 

So, what exactly is neck pain? It may seem self-explanatory, but there is more to neck pain than you might have realized. 

Essentially, your neck is composed of vertebrae that run through your torso up to your skull. Your neck supports your head and allows it to move using a series of bones, ligaments, and muscles. 

If your neck starts to hurt, it could be due to a number of injuries or strain caused to these series of bones, ligaments, and muscles. In the vast majority of cases, neck pain is a relatively minor problem that can be resolved with the right techniques within a week. However, there are types of neck pain that may require specific attention — and even surgery. 

What Is Neck Pain Caused By?

Neck pain can be caused by a number of incidents and behaviors, including: 

Poor posture

Poor posture may seem relatively harmless, but it’s actually one of the leading causes of neck pain these days. Hunching over your computer or smartphone and commuting for long periods of time can cause your neck muscles to strain and weaken.

Injury

Due to its composition, the neck is hurt very easily by external forces — particularly when it is forced into a sudden jerking movement, known as whiplash. 

Any movement that forces neck muscles and ligaments to extend beyond their range can cause neck pain. The most common causes are car collisions, trip-and-fall incidents, and even exercise. 

Heart attack

In some cases, neck pain may be a symptom of a heart attack. Note that it is often accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath, vomiting, sweating, and jaw pain. 

If you experience neck pain in addition to any of the other symptoms, get to the emergency room immediately. 

Meningitis

This one is another medical emergency. With meningitis, the tissues around the brain and spine become inflamed. Symptoms include a sore neck, fever, and headache. Those who experience these symptoms should also seek immediate medical assistance.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a common condition experienced by the elderly. It can cause pain and swelling in joints around the body — including the neck. 

Spinal stenosis

This is caused by the narrowing of the spinal column, which can place pressure on the spinal cords and nerves. Spinal stenosis often arises from conditions like arthritis. 

Herniated cervical disk

An injury or trauma can cause your cervical disk to protrude, resulting in additional pressure on the spine and nerves. This condition is known as a herniated disk, ruptured disk, or slipped disk.

Cervical radiculopathy

This involves inflammation or damage to a nerve root in the cervical spine. When this happens, it can cause your neurological functioning to change. 

This can result in symptoms like weakness, numbness, pain, and pins-and-needles, and may even impact your reflexes. 

In most cases, this goes away on its own. But if it does not, cervical radiculopathy can be degenerative, even leading to paralysis.

How Can You Relieve Neck Pain? 

Most neck pain can be relieved by less extreme measures. Treatments may include stretching, using ice and heat, taking pain relievers, wearing a neck collar, and practicing good sleeping habits.

However, severe neck pain may require more robust treatments — including surgical intervention. Generally speaking, there are three main reasons why someone might need neck surgery:

  1. Their nerve root needs to be decompressed.
  2. Their spinal cord needs to be decompressed.
  3. Their cervical spine needs to be stabilized.

If you fall into any of these categories, there are several possible surgeries that may be used to alleviate your pain depending on the specifics of your case.

Anterior cervical discectomy and cervical spinal fusion

This surgery involves making a small incision in the front of the neck to remove the problematic disk or bone spurs and then stabilizing the spine through spinal fusion (i.e., joining two vertebrae together). 

It is often used in serious cases of cervical radiculopathy.

Artificial disk replacement

Rather than using spinal fusion, ADR removes the disk that is causing the problems and replaces it with an artificial disk. 

Unlike fusing two vertebrae together, ADR can help recipients to maintain a higher level of mobility.

Laminectomy

In this procedure, laminae (the bony plates on your vertebrae that protect your spinal cord) are removed to alleviate the pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. Bone spurs and herniated disk may also be removed.

Laminoplasty

This one is sort of the opposite of a laminectomy. Instead of removing laminae, the surgeon here opens you up to rebuild vertebral laminae in an effort to enlarge your spinal canal and make more room for your spinal cord. Most commonly used for those with spinal stenosis.

Get Help from Specialists in Pain Management

If you are experiencing severe neck pain in the Atlanta area, we encourage you to get in touch with Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics Clinic. We’ve helped countless Atlanta clients with neck pain and other issues — we can help you, too. 

Worried You Have a Pinched Nerve in Your Back? What You Need to Know

Posted on by Atlanta Spine Clinic

Pinched nerves can occur in nearly any part of the human body. It is the term used to describe when compression — too much pressure — is placed on any nerve by the bodily tissues surrounding it.

Sometimes the tissue is swollen muscles or tendons; other times it is pressure from bone or cartilage tissues. Carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance, involves a pinched nerve in the hand or wrist due to swollen tendons, enlarged bone tissue, or degenerated ligaments.

Below, we’re going to cover the causes and symptoms of pinched nerves to help you determine whether this is a problem you are experiencing. Then we’ll share some of the most common at-home, in-office, and surgical treatment options.

Causes of a Pinched Nerve in Your Back

Typically when we envision the onset of a pinched nerve in our back, it’s easy to conjure images of a quick throw-out — you bend over and suddenly can’t get up. While sudden compression can occur from trauma or injury, more often we see a more gradual compression over time. 

Stenosis 

Stenosis is a narrowing of the nerve passages in the spine caused by a bony overgrowth or bone spurs. A narrowed central canal is known as central stenosis, and spaces where spinal nerves exit from the main canal that has become narrow are classified as foraminal or lateral stenosis.

Sciatica 

The largest bundle of nerves outside the central spinal canal is known as your sciatica. It originates in the pelvis and travels down the leg. It is made up of multiple spinal nerves. Issues arise from the nerve being pinched by the piriformis muscle (located behind the larger glute in your buttock) which is responsible for hip rotation and your ability to turn your legs and feet outward.

Herniated Disc

When normal wear and tear create defects to the body parts that protect your vertebrae, many times it leads to bulging and herniated discs. Herniation can bring about pain when nerves become trapped from bulging or torn disc sacs. 

Arthritis in the Spine

As with arthritis in other areas of the body, the condition can cause swelling, which in turn can render your spinal nerves compressed and aching. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a particularly common form that affects the back. 

Through the natural process of aging, there are a number of conditions that can develop due to changes and degeneration in bone and tissue structures and positioning. For this reason, we see most pinched nerves first appear among people between 30 and 50. 

Symptoms aren’t always debilitating when they first become noticeable, however. 

Sure Signs and Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve in Your Back

Our bodies are incredibly adaptable to change — and pain — as we age. Because of this, we don’t always initially recognize the symptoms of pinched or compressed spinal nerves. 

That being said, when you pay attention to your body and understand the symptoms of compression, you are more likely to identify (and treat) a pinched nerve before you ever reach the point of throwing out your back.

Some of the sensations you should be on the lookout for include the following: 

  • Sharp pain (or burning or aching) or a pins-and-needles sensation anywhere in the body. When it occurs from the waist down, this is likely a sign of sciatica problems.
  • Sharp pain and muscle spasms can also signal a pinched nerve in the area just above where you’re noticing the symptoms. 
  • Muscle weakness, balance issues, or diminished reflexes can also indicate nerve compression in the area. 

Note that pinched nerve-related problems typically worsen while sleeping. Also remember, the longer you wait to address a potential problem with a pinched nerve, the more difficult it becomes to ensure no long-term damage.

When you initially begin to notice symptoms consistent with a pinched nerve, there are a number of ways you can address it right at home. 

Pain Relief at Home for a Pinched Back Nerve

While the Atlanta Spine Clinic always recommends consulting with your doctor about any plan for self-care you might be considering, there are a number of things you can do on your own early on. 

Move Your Body

As with anything related to maintaining your good health, exercise is often key to recovering from a pinched nerve. Depending on the cause of compression, certain exercises may be better than others. But generally, a prescribed routine of moderate exercises like walking and light strength training can help. Exercise is known to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and decompress those joints and passages surrounding your nerves.

Make Time for the Yoga Mat

There are a number of specific stretches that provide known benefits for various pinched nerves along the spine. This one is very important to discuss with your doctor since improper stretching can actually worsen symptoms. The most commonly employed techniques include deep stretches of the hamstrings and glutes.   

Modify Your Sleep Positions

Another issue that often exacerbates a pinched nerve situation is the way that you sleep. Your position may aggravate nerve pain symptoms. Talk with your doctor about proper sleeping positions, and what kind of aids might assist with reducing your discomfort. It may be as simple as positioning a pillow between or under your legs.

Properly Recuperate

Certain activities and some seated positions can actually increase nerve pain. When you talk to your doctor about in-home treatment options, he or she may recommend a few days rest to reduce your symptoms. Often the application of ice and heat packs in 20-minute intervals can help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and eliminate muscle spasms.

Seeing Your Doctor About a Pinched Nerve in Your Back

Should at-home treatment methods prove ineffective in relieving your pain, consider heading in to see your doctor about the situation. When symptoms seem to persist to a point that they interfere with your day-to-day routine, or it’s been more than a few days dealing with the same issues, set an appointment. 

There are a number of treatment options your doctor may be able to offer after diagnosing a pinched nerve in your back. Generally, a pinched nerve treatment plan consists of a combination of base-level treatments. When those don’t provide ample relief, more aggressive options may be presented. 

Noninvasive, Low-Level Treatment Options Are Available

Often, noninvasive, low-level treatment options are enough to relieve pinched nerve symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications that don’t involve steroids can usually help reduce swelling of muscle tissue and tendons that may be compressing your nerves.  

Steroid Injections Are Minimally Invasive

When symptoms persist, your doctor may suggest epidural treatments in which steroids are injected into an affected area to reduce swelling for extended periods of time. These injections can often happen right there in your doctor’s office without extended recovery time.

Surgical Procedures to Alleviate Pinched Back Nerves

As a last resort, your spine doctor may recommend a minimally invasive surgical procedure to help correct a pinched nerve in your back. The exact procedure will depend on the root cause of the pinch. For instance, a microdiscectomy calls for a small incision in the back to correct a herniated disc.

Ultimately, in many cases, having a pinched nerve is a temporary condition. Once the cause is removed, pressure dissipates, and usually the previously affected nerve returns to normal functioning.  

When your condition goes unaddressed, however, both chronic pain and permanent nerve damage are likely to occur. So if you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of a pinched nerve in your back, it is always best to err on the side of caution and have the issue checked out.

10 Most FAQs about Physical Therapy

Posted on by Atlanta Spine Clinic

Most people have a general idea what physical therapy is and how it works. But unless you’ve gone through it yourself, there are likely many things you don’t know. And lots of questions you’d like answers to.

That’s why we decided to create this post. It answers the questions we most commonly get from people trying to figure out if physical therapy is for them. Read on to get a clearer picture on how physical therapy works — and how it might help you.

What Is Physical Therapy Exactly? 

The short answer is that physical therapy is a group or series of therapeutic exercises and/or treatments designed to rehabilitate the spine or other parts of the body. 

The treatments often include:

  • ultrasound, 
  • joint mobilization, 
  • electrical stimulation, 
  • massage,
  • and heat/cold therapy. 

The exercises typically include those that both stretch and strengthen, with a focus on the specific area that needs help. In spinal physical therapy, postural modification is often a key component.

Generally, treatments and exercises are used together to supplement each other and reinforce your body against reinjury.

What Can Physical Therapy Help With?

Depending on what they specialize in, physical therapists are able to treat a range of medical issues. Just a few examples of conditions that can benefit from PT include:

  • Back pain
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Concussion
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Developmental delays
  • Lymphedema
  • MS
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Parkinson’s
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Post-myocardial infarction
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Stroke
  • TBI
  • Tennis elbow
  • TMJ
  • Trigger finger
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Vestibular dysfunction

What Spinal Conditions Does Physical Therapy Treat?

Your customized treatment plan will depend upon your unique symptoms and their root causes. 

That being said, there are physical therapy options for many spinal issues – ranging from musculoskeletal dysfunction to neurological conditions to back injuries. 

After spine surgery, for example, PT is frequently prescribed as a way to help with recovery.

What Kind Of Training Does Someone Have To Have In Order To Become A Licensed Physical Therapist? 

Physical therapy licensing requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in PT plus a licensing exam. Therapists must also often complete a certain amount of didactic and clinical interning stints prior to being hired. 

This training commonly involves practical study, such as:

  • Anatomy
  • Disease
  • Healing and recovery
  • Injury
  • Kinesiology
  • Therapeutic treatment techniques

How Do I Know Whether I Need Physical Therapy for My Back?

There is a myriad of conditions and symptoms that can indicate a need for physical therapy. But two tell-tale signs are: 

  1. injury to your back or 
  2. chronic pain (pain that lasts more than three months). 

If you’re unsure whether you might benefit from physical therapy, the best course of action is to consult with your doctor.

Do I Need a Referral from My Regular Doctor to See a Physical Therapist? 

Short answer: no. Although a doctor may refer you to a physical therapist for treatment, you do not legally need a referral in order to receive PT. 

Keep in mind, however, that just because you are able to go to physical therapy does not mean that your insurance will cover it. 

If you’re specifically wondering whether you need a referral for your insurance to cover physical therapy, that depends on your personal coverage plan. 

How Will Physical Therapy Help My Back?

The overall purpose of physical therapy for the back is to provide relief from back pain, help patients recover from injury, and get them back to regular daily activities as quickly as possible.

Just a few benefits you can see from physical therapy include:

  • Avoid surgery
  • Better range of motions
  • Fewer medical problems related to age
  • Greater movement and mobility
  • Improved flexibility
  • Increased balance
  • Manage pain without opioids (or reduced opioids)
  • Performance improvement
  • Prevent falls 
  • Recovery – from injury, stroke, paralysis, or trauma

The specific benefits you receive will depend upon your individual medical history and conditions.

Does Physical Therapy Treatment Hurt? 

That depends. While some treatment can be uncomfortable (or even painful), every treatment plan is designed to ultimately reduce or eliminate pain altogether. 

Moreover, therapists understand how to craft treatment plans that minimize the amount of pain you feel. 

And finally, while some initial soreness is natural when engaging in exercise and stretching, this tends to diminish as therapy continues, while strength and range of motion increase. 

Patients typically tell us they feel better after a therapy session. And they look forward to the next time they come.

Will Physical Therapy Cure My Condition?

It depends upon the condition. There are a number of issues that can be completely resolved through physical therapy or a combination of PT and other treatments. But sometimes treatment plans are designed simply to reduce pain and help patients manage it.

If you are unsure where your specific medical issue falls, ask!

Can Physical Therapy Replace Opioids Or Other Pain Medications In My Treatment Plan? 

Again, this is something that depends upon your specific situation. 

For some people with some conditions, the answer is yes. Physical therapy can completely replace opioids and other pain medication and provide them with similar – or even better – relief. 

In other cases, PT can be used to reduce dependency on these types of medications, though they will still need to be used.

Still Have More Questions about Physical Therapy?

Hopefully, this answers some of your questions and clears up confusion and concerns you may have. 

However, we know that no FAQ document can hope to completely answer every question that every person might have. So, if you still have questions about how PT may benefit you, get in touch with Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics directly. 

We want you to feel comfortable and armed with knowledge before making any treatment decisions about your back. So please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Most people have a general idea what physical therapy is and how it works. But unless you’ve gone through it yourself, there are likely many things you don’t know. And lots of questions you’d like answers to.

That’s why we decided to create this post. It answers the questions we most commonly get from people trying to figure out if physical therapy is for them. Read on to get a clearer picture on how physical therapy works — and how it might help you.

What Is Physical Therapy Exactly? 

The short answer is that physical therapy is a group or series of therapeutic exercises and/or treatments designed to rehabilitate the spine or other parts of the body. 

The treatments often include:

The exercises typically include those that both stretch and strengthen, with a focus on the specific area that needs help. In spinal physical therapy, postural modification is often a key component.

Generally, treatments and exercises are used together to supplement each other and reinforce your body against reinjury.

What Can Physical Therapy Help With?

Depending on what they specialize in, physical therapists are able to treat a range of medical issues. Just a few examples of conditions that can benefit from PT include:

What Spinal Conditions Does Physical Therapy Treat?

Your customized treatment plan will depend upon your unique symptoms and their root causes. 

That being said, there are physical therapy options for many spinal issues – ranging from musculoskeletal dysfunction to neurological conditions to back injuries. 

After spine surgery, for example, PT is frequently prescribed as a way to help with recovery.

What Kind Of Training Does Someone Have To Have In Order To Become A Licensed Physical Therapist? 

Physical therapy licensing requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in PT plus a licensing exam. Therapists must also often complete a certain amount of didactic and clinical interning stints prior to being hired. 

This training commonly involves practical study, such as:

How Do I Know Whether I Need Physical Therapy for My Back?

There is a myriad of conditions and symptoms that can indicate a need for physical therapy. But two tell-tale signs are: 

  1. injury to your back or 
  2. chronic pain (pain that lasts more than three months). 

If you’re unsure whether you might benefit from physical therapy, the best course of action is to consult with your doctor.

Do I Need a Referral from My Regular Doctor to See a Physical Therapist? 

Short answer: no. Although a doctor may refer you to a physical therapist for treatment, you do not legally need a referral in order to receive PT. 

Keep in mind, however, that just because you are able to go to physical therapy does not mean that your insurance will cover it. 

If you’re specifically wondering whether you need a referral for your insurance to cover physical therapy, that depends on your personal coverage plan. 

How Will Physical Therapy Help My Back?

The overall purpose of physical therapy for the back is to provide relief from back pain, help patients recover from injury, and get them back to regular daily activities as quickly as possible.

Just a few benefits you can see from physical therapy include:

The specific benefits you receive will depend upon your individual medical history and conditions.

Does Physical Therapy Treatment Hurt? 

That depends. While some treatment can be uncomfortable (or even painful), every treatment plan is designed to ultimately reduce or eliminate pain altogether. 

Moreover, therapists understand how to craft treatment plans that minimize the amount of pain you feel. 

And finally, while some initial soreness is natural when engaging in exercise and stretching, this tends to diminish as therapy continues, while strength and range of motion increase. 

Patients typically tell us they feel better after a therapy session. And they look forward to the next time they come.

Will Physical Therapy Cure My Condition?

It depends upon the condition. There are a number of issues that can be completely resolved through physical therapy or a combination of PT and other treatments. But sometimes treatment plans are designed simply to reduce pain and help patients manage it.

If you are unsure where your specific medical issue falls, ask!

Can Physical Therapy Replace Opioids Or Other Pain Medications In My Treatment Plan? 

Again, this is something that depends upon your specific situation. 

For some people with some conditions, the answer is yes. Physical therapy can completely replace opioids and other pain medication and provide them with similar – or even better – relief. 

In other cases, PT can be used to reduce dependency on these types of medications, though they will still need to be used.

Still Have More Questions about Physical Therapy?

Hopefully, this answers some of your questions and clears up confusion and concerns you may have. 

However, we know that no FAQ document can hope to completely answer every question that every person might have. So, if you still have questions about how PT may benefit you, get in touch with Atlanta Spine & Orthopaedics directly. 

We want you to feel comfortable and armed with knowledge before making any treatment decisions about your back. So please don’t hesitate to reach out.