At our occupational therapy clinic in Miami, I often hear people tell me that they hurt and they are going to rest for a while and then they should be good to be back to running or getting back to the gym, or whatever they want to get back to doing. Most of the time, pain can really get in the way of sleep!
While they may need to rest, rest alone will not fix the problem. Most of the time people don’t know why they started to hurt in the first place. They did not fall or recall a time when they hurt themselves.
Back pain and rest
One of our clients in Hands-on occupational therapy clinic, Miami had back pain that was in the middle of her back, a little below her shoulder blades. Since it was in a “weird” location, she wanted to make sure with her doctors that nothing internally was wrong like with her heart and lungs. Which is great! She got the all-clear and her doctor told her she was healthy and that her problem was most likely just muscle problems.
It took her over a year to get any kind of help. In part, it was because she thought that since it is just muscles, she should just rest and the pain will go away.
In fact, the back pain did not go away, it got worse.
She finally came to Hands-on Therapy Services for a solution when it became harder and harder for her to fall asleep, and the pain would wake her up every time she wanted to turn over in the night. It also got in the way of her being able to go to the gym with her husband.
Why resting doesn’t help
Here is where the problem lies… our bodies love to compensate, which just means it’s protecting you from feeling pain until it can’t any longer. Resting won’t help when the pain came on gradually over time and it’s been lasting for months, and for some people, even years.
In fact, resting might be on the reasons the pain has gotten even worse! So, if you are not sure what to do with your back pain, you can always visit experts in occupational therapy for back pain in Miami. Remember: an extended period of bed rest is not going to help you recover from back pain, so it’s counterproductive to your recovery.
The spine and the back
Our spine – the whole of your body from neck to tail, does a lot to allow your arms and legs to move and do everything in your life. It loves to move! But sometimes, when it’s not moving correctly, that’s when pain can creep in and make it difficult to fall asleep, turn or roll in bed, and for you to be as active as you want to be. Heck, continued pain can be a huge mental drain on you!
Our spine can be broken up into 3 simple parts:
- Neck
- Thoracic (upper back)
- Back or lower back
Yes, the “back” or the spine can be complex like any other part of our bodies but all parts of our back are meant to move and support us in our everyday activities. When our back is not moving well, any one of the areas can be affected.
Actually, what I have been able to discover with our client, is that all parts of her spine were so tight and stiff that it was causing her pain in one area. She was in pain every time she would roll over.
Next week, I’ll share with you a few tips you can try on your own to help with your back pain.
Learn more about occupational therapy for back pain in Miami
If you are done trying to relieve back pain on your own or someone you know is having some kind of upper back pain and not sure about what to do, give us a call at Hands-on Therapy Services. Talk to a specialist before booking a paid session. Or request a Free Discovery Visit. Be clear on what you need before any paid session.
Contact us or call us at 786-615-9879 and speak with our specialist right away.
The author – Hoang Tran is the owner of Hands-on Therapy Services and author of the book “The Hands-On Approach”. She loves helping people with back problems because she knows how bad it can get. Call her at 786-615-9879 or email at hoang@handsots.com
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
