Non-Surgical Treatment for Chronic Back Pain: What Helps

Living with back pain that just won’t go away? Maybe it started with a simple strain months ago, or it keeps coming back no matter what you try. You’re not stuck with it. Most people with chronic back pain can get better. They just haven’t had the right treatment yet.

In this article, Dr. Scott Gray, owner and founder of Back In Motion in Fort Myers, explains what chronic back pain is, why it happens, and the non-surgical approach we use to fix it.

What Is Chronic Back Pain?

Back pain is called chronic when it lasts longer than about 12 weeks. That’s because most tissues in the body heal within roughly 12 weeks. If you still hurt after that, the normal healing window has passed and something else is keeping the pain going.

• Acute: the first days after you hurt your back, for example bending over at work.
• Sub-acute: the tissue is still fragile, but healing.
• Settled stage: from about day five up to 12 weeks, when much of the healing happens.
• Chronic: pain that continues after 12 weeks.

3 Common Reasons Back Pain Becomes Chronic

1. Too Much Rest

Injured tissue needs the right exercise to heal and remodel. If you rest the whole time, the tissue heals stiff, with scar tissue, so it hurts whenever it has to stretch or contract.

2. Scary Labels From Imaging

Say you strain your back and get X-rays or an MRI. The report lists findings like a bulging disc, stenosis, foraminal narrowing or bone spurs. Many of these are common and may have nothing to do with your pain, but once you’re labeled, it’s natural to become worried and afraid to move.

That fear leads to moving less, losing fitness and getting weaker, which keeps the pain cycle going.

3. The Wrong Treatment

Painkillers and injections can be helpful at times, but they don’t help injured tissue heal the way it needs to. Passive treatments that rely only on the practitioner rarely fix the cause either.

Non-Surgical Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

Surgery is only needed in limited cases, such as worsening nerve damage. For most people, an active approach works best. Physical therapy helps because it:

• Retrains posture and movement
• Improves flexibility and mobility
• Strengthens the core and the muscles that support your spine
• Gradually builds your tolerance for activity
• Gives you confidence that it’s OK to move again
• Helps the injured tissue in your back heal properly

The Gray Method™: Finding the Root Cause

Most people come to Back In Motion because they’ve already tried pills, injections or passive treatments without lasting relief. With The Gray Method™, we use a three-step process that looks at three key areas: your thoracic spine (mid-back), hips and feet. We ask questions like:

• Are the muscles that support your spine weak?
• Do tight hips make you round your back when you bend?
• Are you sitting or sleeping in a way that keeps irritating it?
• As a golfer, do you have enough hip rotation?

Once we know why your back pain started, we build an action plan to get you back in motion safely. Learn more about our back pain relief program.

When to See a Doctor Right Away

• Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin
• Leg weakness that’s getting worse
• Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chronic back pain go away?

Yes. Many people improve a lot once the real cause is found and treated with the right exercise and hands-on care.

Is exercise safe with chronic back pain?

For most people, yes. Exercise is the foundation of non-surgical treatment. It should be matched to your condition and progressed gradually. Read how to train with back pain safely.

Do I need surgery for chronic back pain?

Usually not. Surgery is for specific cases, such as worsening nerve damage. Read why back surgery doesn’t always work before you decide.

Fix the Cause of Your Chronic Back Pain

Start with our Fixing the Cause & Not Just the Symptoms Assessment, or Inquire About an Appointment →

Call our office at (239) 223-0484 to schedule your appointment.