Low back pain (LBP) can be debilitating. Your low back includes your lumbar vertebrae and discs, attached ligaments, muscles, and tendons as well as the associated nerves. It provides for stability and mobility during movement. When you have an injury or pain in your low back it can be scary… What is going on? How long will it last? What can be done?

What is going on?

• LBP can be complex and there are many different ways to diagnose what is wrong. That is why most people with LBP have been told various things are wrong with them… a muscle strain, slipped disc, pinched nerve, etc. They receive treatment based on that diagnosis alone and end up seeing multiple healthcare providers with different treatments that do not get to the root of the problem… medications, injections, imaging, etc. Instead research has shown that 95% of LBP cases are not life threatening, so medications/injections only cover up your symptoms and imaging typically shows normal age-related changes that do not improve your care outside of rare/emergent circumstances. This is where M3 Physio excels. We perform a thorough history and physical examination to discuss what happened to your low back, what fears you have, your goals, aggravating/relieving factors and movements. We also examine you for the 5% of LBP cases that are more serious. If you have any signs or symptoms of a more serious cause of your LBP we refer you to the most appropriate healthcare provider. M3 Physio has built relationships with many specialists in Northeast Louisiana so you can be assured you are getting the best care possible.

How long will it last?

• LBP is tricky. Because there are so many causes and factors that can affect your low back there is no one size fits all timeline or approach to getting better. Tissues typically heal according to a standard timeframe (2-3 months depending on the tissue injured), but pain is different and is complicated by many different factors including sensitivity of your nervous system as well as other factors going on in your life (stress, thoughts/beliefs, worries, etc). Due to the many factors that can affect the duration of your LBP, with M3 Physio you will receive a thorough history and physical examination so we can target your treatment to your goals… decreased pain while exercising, improved mobility to play with your kids, increased strength to perform your daily activities, etc. As you improve, we make sure you know how to continue to care for yourself. Our goal is not to keep treating your LBP for life, but to get you back to loving your life and be your physical therapist if you ever need us again!

What can I (client) do for it?

• First and foremost, please understand that LBP is common. Over 80% of people will suffer from LBP at least once in their life with most having recurring bouts. So don’t freak out… research has shown that staying active as tolerated is the best first option, not bedrest like most tell you. After a week or so, your back should be steadily improving. If it is not or you are worried then it is the time to see M3 Physio. In Louisiana, you have the ability to see a physical therapist first without having to waste time waiting to see another healthcare provider. If you experience persistent, often called chronic, bouts of LBP you should look into starting a healthier lifestyle. Exercise, any exercise you enjoy, has been shown to decrease your chance of having LBP. The one thing that stops people from exercising is thinking they are doing damage to their back. This is understandable but the more we learn, we are seeing that pain does not always mean damage (remember the nervous system sensitivity we mentioned before?! Pain is a warning system that something needs to change) and that your low back responds positively to exercise (stronger muscles and bones, healthier disc, improved quality of life). The CDC states you should get 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. That could be walking 30 minutes 5 days per week at a pace where you are slightly out of breath and sweating (UPDATE – the World Health Organization recently updated their guidelines to 150-300 minutes/week – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity). Another area to look at is your nutrition. Eating whole foods – quality protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to obtain a healthier weight. The old way of thinking is the more weight you have the more pressure on your joints, but research has shown that losing weight decreases inflammation in your body which can lead to decreased pain. Last but not least, look at any areas of increased stress in your life and more productive ways of managing them… getting organized, meditating, spending time with family and friends, talking to someone, etc. Whatever helps you better handle the stress life throws at all of us!

What can you (M3 Physio) do for it?

• Like we mentioned before, you will receive a thorough history and physical examination to make sure you are appropriate for physical therapy and if so what we can do to help you. We take the information from your examination and lay out a road map to get you to your goals. That starts with educating (Motivation) you about the specifics of your LBP and what you can do, some of which we have already mentioned above. Next we include Manual Therapy to decrease your body’s perception of pain and allow you to start moving with decreased pain. Manual therapy can include joint manipulation (commonly known as popping or cracking) to improve mobility, soft-tissue mobilization to decrease tension, as well as muscle stretching and neurodynamics to improve range of motion. We follow-up with exercise (Movement) to improve your strength and ability to perform the activities that make your life worth living! This whole process is designed with you in mind… this is not a cookie cutter approach but customized and adjustable to you and your goals because at M3 Physio we know just like LBP, no two people and their goals are alike.

Why M3 Physio?

• At M3 Physio our first priority is our clients and your wellbeing. We were in the fight at the legislature for you to have the right to choose who you see first. We seek to provide the highest quality care available by being a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist. We have streamlined our intake so that you do not have to spend your precious time feeling out the same questions repeatedly. We come to you so that we can treat you where you want… your home, work, gym, or wherever else because what better way to achieve your goals than in the environment where they happen. We schedule when it is convenient for you and you spend your entire session with your physical therapist. We do not fall in the insurance trap of letting them dictate your care while you pay on the front and back end… Our bottom line is your goal.

Bonus:

• M3 Physio is certified in dry needling. A technique using thin filiform needles to decrease tension and pain while improving mobility. If interested in learning more about this or getting an examination as the first step back to loving your life… contact M3 Physio now! Call/text 318-512-1887, email michael@m3physio, or reach out on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).

Yours in health,
Michael Hildebrand, PT, DPT, COMT

• M3 Physio Owner/Doctor of Physical Therapy – Mobile/Concierge Physical Therapy and Wellness – We meet you where you are to get you where you want to be!
• 318-512-1887 (c) / michael@m3physio.com – Call or message now to find out how physical therapy can help you!
• Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/m3physio/