As the weather heats up, nothing can ruin your summer fun like lower back pain. Lower back pain can stop you from enjoying even the most relaxing of activities - from laying on a beach to taking a nice walk through the local landscaping you might be stopped by lower back pain. Here are some things that might be causing your lower back pain, and why you should see your Wyoming physical therapist.

Disc Issues
This is a common issue, and often a painful/uncomfortable one. Disc pain can be characterized by sharp pain in the lower back, that might migrate down your leg as well. If you are experiencing this type of pain, and it gets worse when you are sitting or bending over - you might have disc issues. Herniated discs often cause these issues, and it’s more common in younger generations than you might think.

Sacroiliac Dysfunction
Sacroiliac Dysfunction is a mouthful, but it’s also something that can cause pain during sitting, driving, broad pain, or pain while getting in and out of your car. It is a little harder to diagnose, but overall Sacroiliac Dysfunction is an issue with the sacrum and/or ilia. These types of issues can be long lasting, and take awhile to diagnose through MRIs or xrays. If you think you are experiencing this problem, be sure to have an open and honest conversation with your doctor. 

Spinal Stenosis
As your body ages, the ligaments connected to your vertebrae can begin to thicken (a result of osteoarthritis). As these ligaments thicken, the spinal canal can begin to narrow which causes additional pain and discomfort. Spinal stenosis can get so bad that you might begin to have difficulty walking and may require more than physical therapy assistance. If you think you might have developed spinal stenosis, seek medical attention and care immediately.

Muscle Strain
If the back pain is sudden onset, and doesn’t last for very long, you might have just strained a muscle or a ligament. While healing from a muscle or ligament strain, you’ll need to take things slowly and be careful not to create any additional pain or issues. As you recover from a strain, just make sure to keep using your back. While rest and relaxation is helpful, so is light physical activity such as walking and stretching. If you realize this is far too painful, refer to some relaxation and then connect with your Wyoming physical therapist. 

If you don’t meet any of the symptoms listed previously, but you are still experiencing chronic back pain - talk with your Wyoming physical therapist. Chronic back pain can be defined as back pain lasting longer than three months, but no one wants to deal with back pain for that long. At North Platte Physical Therapy, we are here to help meet your needs when it comes to managing and healing back pain. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services for post-cast recovery. Contact us today for more information.