When you're suffering from back pain, it may be tempting to stay on the couch all day. But that's a prescription for more pain. Although getting up and moving might be the last thing you feel like doing, physical therapy and exercise can be the best way to reduce pain.

Before beginning a physical therapy or exercise program the first thing to do is get some information. While simple measures such as applying heat or cold or using over-the-counter pain remedies may help, the best approach for most back pain is exercises and other treatments under the guidance of a pain management physician.

First and foremost, we try to determine what kind of back pain we’re dealing with. Acute or chronic back pain can be treated. We do tests to decide which category of treatment will work best.