Top Ten Tips on Low Back Pain from Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation

When you initially develop low back pain a few questions come up.    Do I need bed rest?  What exercises should  I perform?  What pain should I seek help for immediately?  Here is a few facts and tips about low back pain for the first six weeks:

1. More than two days of bed rest is often more harmful than helpful
2. Use a supportive lumbar roll or ergonomic chair while sitting or driving
3. Be careful not to bend and twist for first 1-2hours after waking up in the morning. At this time most back pain sufferers have the greatest chance of re-injuring themselves
4. Don’t sit or drive for longer than 30 minutes at a time!
5. In most cases try and sleep on your back with three or more pillows under your legs so that the hips and knees are both flexed 80 to 90 degrees- studies show this places the least amount of pressure on the lumbar spine/lower back
6. According to research Xrays and MRIs are not often necessary or helpful in early stages low back pain
7. Keep as active as you can without increasing your pain significantly- Just because  you have pain does not mean stop moving!
8. Understand what activities increase intensity of low back pain
9. If you experience pain bel0w your knees, weakness, balance problems, changes in bowel and bladder changes or severe seek medical help immediately, altered urination patterns
10. Spinal manipulation in first six weeks may be beneficial for certain patients
11. May use Non-steriodal Anti-inflammatories or Acetaminophen for pain control if allowed by your doctor

These are some general guidelines for low back pain and if low back pain persists you should seek a formal examination by a orthopedic physical therapist.  Keep in mind persistent low back pain can be an indication in some cases of infection, cancer, or other more serious conditions.
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your physician before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative regimen

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Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.

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