Even though the experience of having low back pain can feel isolating, it’s actually quite common. In fact, research has shown that nearly one in three people have low back pain over a one-month time period. The good news because low back pain is among the most common sources of pain, medical professionals like physical therapists and physicians have devoted much time and entire careers to refining treatment strategies and discovering new ones.

Degenerative disc disease is common and often benign. Tissue changes associated with degenerative disc disease are often normal with aging. Further, these changes may only minimally contribute to low back pain or they may not contribute at all. An excellent healthcare team will use X-ray findings to inform decisions about treatment, but will not base decisions solely around them. An excellent team will account for a variety of factors that contribute to low back pain, such as muscle weakness, work responsibilities, or family support.

A diagnosis of chronic low back pain sounds very concerning, like something that cannot be corrected. However, the word “chronic” in “chronic low back pain” is merely a term used by clinicians to describe the past — it means the patient has pain that has persisted for “greater than three months.” Receiving such a diagnosis does not mean that symptoms cannot or will not improve.

Hurt does not always equal harm. The brain and nervous system together produce the sensation that we perceive as pain. In individuals with persistent low back pain, the brain and nervous system may be sensitive to and cause pain with movements that would otherwise be non-aggravating. The movements themselves may not be inherently dangerous, despite them aggravating one’s pain. Symptom aggravation does not necessarily mean that damage has been done, but rather that the body’s alarm system is more easily triggered. The good news is that physical therapists have many techniques they can use to calm the body’s alarm system, and one of the most effective of these is exercise. Therefore, movement in spite of symptoms and perception of pain can be beneficial even to those with low back pain.

The good news is that many individuals find that nonsurgical treatments, and even no treatments at all, can produce significant improvements within the first 30 days. Should an individual with low back pain need formal treatment, many nonsurgical approaches are effective and recommended. Just a few of these nonsurgical approaches are manual therapy, exercise, and advice to remain active. Several medications are also widely recommended for curtailing low back pain. All of these strategies are part of a comprehensive nonsurgical treatment plan. In some circumstances, surgery is indicated and physical therapists can be an integral part of the post-surgical team, as they facilitate a return to home, work, community, and even sporting activity.