Effective Back Pain Relief in Fairfax, VA, and Chantilly, VA

Back pain is a common ailment that shows up in a variety of forms and can drastically reduce your quality of life by limiting your activities and causing ongoing discomfort. At our physical therapy facilities located in both Fairfax and Chantilly, VA, we specialize in diagnosing and treating back pain with a patient-centered approach.

Our goal is to alleviate your pain and restore your mobility through personalized treatment plans that address both the symptoms and the underlying causes of back pain.

After a severe herniated disc in my lumbar region, and to avoid surgery I attended very well designed, managed and choreographed PT sessions... They devised a PT program that slowly but surely brought back my strength to a point that I can now go back to gym for routine exercises and rejoin the High Intensity Training (HITT) at my gym.
— Kazem S, patient

Understanding Back Pain Symptoms That Require Therapy

Individuals suffering from back pain may experience a variety of symptoms that can interfere with daily activities and overall well-being. Common symptoms include:

  • Persistent aching or stiffness along your spine from the base of your neck to the tailbone, which might persist for weeks or become chronic.

  • Sharp, localized pain often felt in the lower back, upper back, or neck, which might be triggered by strenuous activities or lifting heavy objects.

  • Chronic ache in the lower back after prolonged periods of sitting or standing, commonly reported by professionals in Fairfax and Chantilly who work desk jobs or other sedentary occupations.

  • Pain that radiates to the lower body, which may suggest nerve involvement like sciatica, affecting not just the back but also extending down to the legs and feet.

Causes and Complications of Back Pain Problems

Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from physical strain to underlying medical conditions:

  • Muscular strains are one of the most common causes, occurring when muscles or ligaments in the back are overstretched or torn from overactivity.

  • Degenerative conditions such as disc disease, where discs naturally wear down with age, leading to pain, stiffness, and potentially nerve pain.

  • Improper posture and ergonomic failures contribute significantly to back pain, particularly among the workforce in Fairfax and Chantilly who may spend extensive hours at their desks.

  • Accidents and injuries such as falls or vehicular accidents can cause severe and immediate back pain requiring professional intervention.

Without proper treatment, back pain can lead to debilitating complications that affect more than just your physical health:

  • Reduced mobility can prevent you from enjoying daily activities and lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which itself poses further health risks.

  • Dependency on medications for pain relief can occur, which may have long-term health implications and could lead to medication overuse headaches or other side effects.

  • Mental health impacts are common, as chronic pain can lead to feelings of frustration, depression, and anxiety, affecting overall well-being and quality of life.

You can get anywhere with the proper guidance and a good trainer. I was lucky to get my assistance from a formidable trainer, Chanchal, aka CC. The goal of my PT with her was to improve my posture and balance and to strengthen my back affected by herniated discs. CC not only diagnosed my condition properly, but also devised a scheme of training with good exercises and incremental complexity and hardship that proved helpful. At the end of 12 treatments, I felt more mobile and balanced.
— Ligia Steers, patient

Treating Back Pain Diagnoses Based on a Physical Therapy Assessment

At Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness, diagnosing back pain begins with a detailed patient history and a physical examination. Depending on the assessment, our physical therapists can treat a range of back pain diagnoses, including:

  • Sciatica Pain

This specific back pain condition known technically as “lumbar radiculopathy” distributes pain along the sciatic nerve. As the largest nerve in your body, a pinched sciatic nerve can affect your spine, glutes, legs and feet with a shooting pain that can also feel like a sting or a burn. Sciatica Pain can be relieved through our targeted physical therapy program.

  • Piriformis Pain

Piriformis pain is a condition caused by dull pain and spasms in the piriformis muscle which affects the buttock region. Piriformis can also affect your sciatic nerve causing pain to your leg and foot.

Whether it’s tightening, spasms or swelling causing piriformis pain, our physical therapists can develop a treatment program that alleviates your pain and restores your range of motion.

  • Lumbar Stenosis

Lumbar stenosis is the progressive narrowing of the spinal canal, resulting in back pain and occasionally pain and numbness in the legs, along with weakness. Usually pain is worse when standing and walking.

Our physical therapists intervene to improve mobility and decrease pain with targeted stretching, strengthening and postural exercises, along with modalities listed below, to decrease pain and improve quality of life.

Back Pain Treatment Options in Northern Virginia

We offer a variety of treatments to manage and alleviate back pain, tailored to the specific needs of our patients in Fairfax and Chantilly:

  • Physical Therapy: A cornerstone of back pain treatment, involving strengthening and flexibility exercises that reduce pressure on the spine and alleviate pain.

  • Manual Therapy: Techniques such as spinal manipulation to correct alignment and relieve pain immediately. This hands-on approach helps to improve mobility and encourage the body’s natural healing processes.

  • Moist Heat and Electrical Stimulation: These innovative modalities assist in the initial stages of therapy and allow for improved participation in therapy.

  • The Neubie: This cutting edge technology uses pulsed direct electrical stimulation to decrease pain and muscle spasms which will improve and restore the nerve pathways to the legs for better function.

Why Choose Us for Back Pain Treatment?

Choosing Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness means opting for a team of experienced therapists who use evidence-based practices to treat back pain. Our clinics in Fairfax and Chantilly are equipped with modern facilities and we use the latest treatment techniques to provide relief and promote long-term health.

During my first appointment with Dr. Chanchal Agrawal I found her to be very kind, compassionate, intelligent and very detailed in addressing my injury and felt my progress and well-being was the most important. She laid out a plan and program that has helped me see positive results in just a few visits. They always make me feel relaxed and put my mind at ease when doing new exercises.
— Raymond Bunke, patient

Frequently Asked Questions About Back Pain

  • Regular exercise, proper ergonomic setups at work, and periodic stretching throughout the day are key strategies.

  • Yes, therapies like acupuncture and massage can complement traditional treatments by relieving pain and improving function.

  • Surgery is typically considered only after all other conservative treatments have failed to provide relief.

Schedule Your Back Pain Treatment Consultation in Fairfax, VA, or Chantilly, VA

Don't let back pain hold you back any longer. Contact Virginian Rehabilitation & Wellness today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a pain-free life. Our expert team in Fairfax and Chantilly is ready to help you recover and thrive.