Back Pain
Back pain is pain in the lower or middle back, and most of it is mechanical: a strained muscle, an irritated disc or stiff joints rather than serious damage. Physical therapy helps by finding which movements load your spine badly and teaching it to move well again. PAR Physical Therapy treats low back pain in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet
What is behind your low back pain
A pulled muscle, a bulging disc and a stiff joint can feel alike on day one. They are not treated alike.
Muscle strain and back spasms
Lifting, twisting or one awkward reach can strain the muscles along the spine. People often say "I pulled a muscle in my back" after one of these, and the muscles around it then tighten into back spasms to protect it.
Herniated disc and bulging disc
A disc is the cushion between two spinal bones. A herniated disc or bulging disc can irritate a nearby nerve and cause pain, numbness or tingling that may travel into the leg.
Degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis
Discs thin and dry with age, and degenerative disc disease often shows up as a dull ache and stiffness. Spinal stenosis is a narrowed space around the nerves that can make long walks or standing uncomfortable. Strength, mobility and posture can still improve.
SI joint pain
Pain low on one side, near the base of the spine, can come from the sacroiliac joint rather than a disc. We test the joint and the hips as well as the spine.
New back pain, long-lasting back pain, and why staying active beats bed rest
New (acute) back pain is usually short-term. Back pain that lasts about three months or more is chronic, and it deserves a closer look at how you move and what you do all day. Back pain from sitting tends to build at a desk or in the car. Back pain when bending shows up when you reach for your shoes or lift a laundry basket. Which pattern you have tells us what to calm down first and what to train.
For most people, gentle movement in a comfortable range does more for a sore back than lying in bed. We will show you how much to do and how to ease back into your normal day. Golfers are welcome too: as Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) medical professionals, our therapists look at how your swing loads your spine.
What your back pain evaluation involves
Your physical therapist builds the plan around how your back actually moves and what you want to get back to.
- Your story: when it started, what you do at work and for exercise, and what makes it better or worse
- How your spine and hips move, where motion is stiff, and how you stand, sit and walk
- Strength and control of your core and hip muscles
- Hands-on treatment such as manual therapy and joint mobilization when it fits, with posture and lifting training
- Core stabilization exercises and a digital home program so you can keep going between visits
Pain going down your leg? Not sure it is your back?
Leg pain or tingling
Pain that runs from the buttock down one leg is covered on our Sciatica page.
Hips that feel tight
Stiff hips change how the spine moves, so we check them too. See Hip Pain.
Pregnancy and after birth
Back pain while pregnant has its own needs. Read prenatal and postpartum care and call us to ask who on our team can help.
Arthritis in the spine
Wear in the spinal joints is covered under arthritis and joint pain.
Pain that will not settle
If it has lasted for months, chronic pain care explains why a sensitive nervous system can keep pain going.
Hurt on the job
Back strains from lifting or repetitive work are on our work injuries page.
See a doctor or go to the ER first if you have
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Fever along with back pain
- Back pain after a serious fall or accident
A doctor's referral is not always needed. Tell us when you schedule, bring your insurance card, and we will go over what your plan requires.
Back pain questions
Is lower back pain the same as a herniated disc?
No. Most low back pain comes from muscles, joints or discs working poorly together. A herniated disc is one possible cause, and an exam tells them apart.
How soon can I be seen?
Same-day appointments are possible at both clinics. Call and we will find a time.
Back pain care in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet
Call either clinic or request an appointment. Same-day appointments are possible, and we accept most insurance plans.
We see patients in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet