What should I do if the treatment doesn't make me feel better?

What should I do if the treatment doesn't make me feel better?

This is a tough question because every situation is different. If you are suffering from acute pain and it is very new you probably need to give treatment a little more time, especially if you have just started Physical Therapy. This holds true for chronic pain and recent initiation of treatment. It takes about 4-6 weeks for muscles to make lasting changes in strength, length and endurance. So if you have just started a lumbar stabilization exercise program you need to give it 4-6 weeks before you start to measure results.

Also, sometimes pain is not a good measure for progress. If you are able to tolerate more, perform more advanced exercises and resume more day to day activities but your pain is about the same you are actually demonstrating progress. You are doing more without increase in symptoms. That is sign of progress!

In addition your symptoms may change indicating progress. For example, if you have had nerve symptoms into your legs, known as radiculopathy, and that pain moves into your low back, this is also a sign of progress. Even if you pain has intensified in your low back, the centralization of pain, or concentration into your low back indicates decrease in neurological symptoms and is a sign that you are improving.

If you have been participating in Physical Therapy for more than 3 months and you continue to have significant pain without any relief, you may need to take a closer look at the situation. Have you truly committed to the lumbar stabilization process? Have you been faithful with your home exercises? Have you given your best to improve strength in your low back? If the answer is truly yes to all of these questions, you may need to have further diagnostic testing such as MRI and consult an orthopedic surgeon or neuro surgeon for further treatment. Otherwise, you may need to re-establish your commitment level to the process and really give lumbar stabilization and Physical Therapy the effort to improve.