Orthopedic Rehab: Common Complaints for Dealing with Back Pain

Whether you’re a weekend warrior who got injured from a pick-up game weeks ago, or are a patient dealing with chronic pain, back pain can be debilitating and frustrating. It can happen at any time. Anywhere. Here are some of the most common complaints that our NJ orthopedic rehab physical therapists at Twin Boro hear when it comes to dealing with back pain.

Read More: Physical Therapy for Back Pain: Who Can Benefit?

My Low Back Hurts When I Sit, but Is Fine When I Walk

If your back tends to hurt when you’re sitting, but gets better when you walk, you could be dealing with disc or nerve inflammation. When we sit, the pressure of body weight, in addition to gravity, can overload the disc in your back. This can create pain if inflammation is present. It can also cause pain to radiate down the leg. Additionally, sitting causes the nerve to stretch, which can aggravate an already irritated nerve. Therefore, if you’re sitting or driving for a long period of time, you may notice discomfort in the back and in the back of the legs.

When you rise to a standing position, pain may initially increase, but many patients will feel better after walking around. That upright position takes pressure off the disc and decreases the stretch of the inflamed nerve.

Our orthopedic rehab specialists encourage patients to work in a standing position when possible to decrease pressure on the disc.

My Back Hurts When I Sleep

If your back hurts at night when you’re sleeping, or if you’re standing in place for too long, you could be dealing with facet joint inflammation. If the facets are inflamed, patients often find relief when they’re moving or walking. Unlike when lying prone, this movement allows for more space between the joints. Typically facet inflammation does not cause leg pain, but it can create pain in the lower buttock, hip and even the groin.

Leg pain, however, is an indication that your pain is probably coming from the nerve, not the facet. If the facet joint becomes enlarged, it can irritate the nerves around it, which makes home diagnosis trickier. Talk to an orthopedic rehab specialist in one of Twin Boro’s 23 NJ locations near you to understand the cause of your pain.

My Back Hurts When I Stand, but Is Fine When I Sit

When in the standing position, the spine straightens out and the spinal canal becomes more narrow. This position can create a smaller space, compared to when sitting. Typically, this doesn’t create symptoms, because the spinal canal has enough room —  unless you have spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis is the enlargement of joints, protruding discs and thickening ligaments that make the spinal canal too narrow. When this area gets inflamed, it can cause symptoms when you stand or walk, but sitting provides dramatic relief.  

Often, the worst time for patients dealing with spinal stenosis are when they first arise from bed in the morning. Consider sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs to help alleviate some nighttime pain.

My Hips Hurt

Hip pain is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients who come in for orthopedic rehab in our NJ offices. But what many don’t realize is that their “hip pain” is often pain in the muscles surrounding the hip, such as the buttock. Many patients who present hip pain actually have an issue with their lumbar spine, typically due to inflammation from a herniated disc or nerve impingement.

Reducing Inflammation with Orthopedic Rehab

Orthopedic rehab can help to eliminate the inflammation and subsequently, the discomfort of many low back pain complaints. Using our proprietary One2Four advanced physical therapy technique, treatment options may range from moist heat applications, strength and mobility exercises, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and manual therapy.

Read More: What is the One2Four Advanced Physical Therapy Technique?

At Twin Boro, our skilled experts have decades of experience treating all kinds of pain that originates from the spine. Everything from a pain in the neck to a pain in the… buttocks. Call us at1-732-444-3578 or schedule an appointment to learn more about orthopedic rehab for common low back pain conditions.

At each of our 23 NJ locations, our team is passionate about what we do and are here to help you reduce overall pain, restore mobility and increase function levels.

Why Choose Twin Boro Physical Therapy

Voted Readers’ Choice Best of New Jersey, Twin Boro has provided NJ residents with high quality physical therapy and rehab for over 38 years! It’s our award-winning approach, proven results and reputation that sets us apart. By incorporating the One2Four program into each patient’s program, the latest and most reliable scientific research and techniques are incorporated into effective evidence-based practice. We deliver only the highest standard of care with the unique One2Four approach.

It’s no surprise that Twin Boro Physical Therapy has also been voted the best physical therapy practice in New Jersey by the readers of mycentraljersey.com.