How long does lower back pain take to heal?
It varies from person to person, but many episodes of lower back pain ease over days to a few weeks. Some linger longer or keep returning. A physiotherapist can help you work out what is affecting your recovery and how to speed up the return to normal.
What affects healing time
- What caused the pain, such as a strain or a long-standing problem
- How active you stay while it recovers
- Sleep, stress and general health
- Your work and daily demands
- Whether you have had back pain before
What helps recovery along
Staying gently active, avoiding long periods of sitting or bed rest, and building strength in the back, hips and core can all help. Treating the cause, not only the pain, makes it less likely to come back.
When to get help
Book an assessment if your pain has not improved after a couple of weeks, keeps returning, spreads into your leg, or affects sleep and work. Earlier help often means a simpler plan.
Seek urgent medical care if you have numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe leg weakness, fever with back pain, or pain after a fall or car crash.
Our physiotherapy team can give you a realistic picture of recovery for your situation.
Related: how many physiotherapy sessions will I need?, how soon after an injury should I see a physiotherapist? and should I see a physiotherapist or a chiropractor for low back pain or sciatica?
Want a clearer idea of your recovery?
Questions? Call 613-742-1230 or email info@pstottawa.ca. Find us at 5-5303 Canotek Rd, Ottawa.