Chances are you’ve felt it, maybe it’s been a slight tweak when you moved the wrong way or blinding pain after lifting something. Back pain is common as 80 percent of us will experience it. In December’s Health Check, we’ll take a look at a new resource.

Julie Woodard knows you shouldn’t just wait it out. Her back pain came on suddenly and was so bad she couldn’t even leave the house. After medicine prescribed by her family physician caused a bad reaction, she called Alegent Health’s back clinic for help.

Dr. Connie Lorenzo is a physiatrist with Alegent Health, someone who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The back clinic matches each patient with a physiatrist and a physical therapist. The goal is to get rid of back pain and keep it from coming back.

Dr. Lorenzo says the good news is this usually can be achieved with therapy and medicine. Surgery is rarely required.

After Julie’s second physical therapy session, she was able to sleep through the night. After her third visit, she could drive herself to the doctor. After her fifth session, she was pain-free. Now, she just wants to stay that way.