By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

I would have to say that the large metal rod and giant screws keeping my spine in place reminds me every day that a healthy back is a very important part of life. When I was 19, I underwent Harrington Rod surgery to correct my extremely severe scoliosis from a combined curvature of 116 degrees to its present curve of 68 degrees. As I worked with my outpatient physical therapist for several months following the surgery, I was reminded of the usually sturdy skeletal centerpiece that largely holds the rest of our body together.

The effects of an ailing or disabled spine are far reaching, affecting the neurological, circulatory, muscular, and skeletal systems. At last count, in 2005 the portion of Americans suffering from some type of back pain had risen to 15 percent (JAMA). Physical therapists have likely seen all of the major causes of back pain and then some. They include obesity (also on the rise), a sedentary lifestyle, lack of core strength, injury from misuse and trauma. Most back pain is located in the lower back, the area absorbing the brunt of daily activity (or inactivity in the case of chronic sitters).

Fortunately for physical therapists and traveling physical therapists who get to see a diverse sampling of back pain patients in popular travel pt destinations across the country, people don’t seem to be learning the essential lessons of maintaining a healthy back. As an orthopedic nurse I learned that most patients have the attitude that it’s okay to abuse and misuse their spine because surgery will fix anything. Even the surgeons don’t have that attitude because it is simply not true. Surgery is not the cure all for everything. Ask one of the residents of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab”, Jeff Conaway, whose on camera debate with Dr. Drew concluded with the well-known physician telling Conaway that another surgery was simply not an option for the star, who had already undergone years of spinal surgeries, only to remain in chronic pain.

This is the case for countless Americans and thankfully, physical therapists and traveling physical therapists have solutions for individuals with chronic back pain. The solutions include both daily exercises to keep the pain at bay as well as treatments and additional therapeutic exercises for acute flare ups.

Although they were sometimes referred to as “drug seekers” by other medical staff, I always felt sympathy for the “frequent flyers” who would visit the orthopedic floor sometimes monthly for an epidural IV of morphine or other strong pain medicine. I literally felt their pain and I am thankful for physical therapists, who are there to provide a user’s manual to the back, reminding us that movement is sometimes just what the doctor ordered.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.