Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

When you set off to treat a new or chronic injury, you do so with the intention that the treatments you pursue will either help to reduce or completely eliminate your discomfort. And while no treatment is 100 percent effective, oftentimes people encounter other obstacles that can make it hard for them to achieve successful results. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the common obstacles to successful back pain treatment.

Common Barriers To Effective Back Pain Treatment

Be aware of these common barriers to effective treatment so that you can put your back pain issues in the past.

1. Misdiagnosis – If you think you’re dealing with one condition but you’re actually dealing with something else, odds are you aren’t pursuing the most effective treatment program. Self-misdiagnosis is incredibly common with back issues because many conditions present with similar symptoms, like pain, swelling, discomfort that spreads to your arms or legs and mobility restrictions. If you want to ensure you’re pursuing the right treatment, make sure you get an official diagnosis from your primary care physician or a spine specialist.
2. More Than One Issue – Another common hurdle that people often face when working to overcome a back issue is the fact that there may be more than one underlying problem that needs to be addressed. You may be able to calm an irritated spinal nerve through physical therapy, but if you don’t address the posture problems that are contributing to spinal nerve pain, symptoms may return or worsen. A spine specialist can develop a recovery plan that treats all aspects that are contributing to your issue.
3. Poor Effort – Another common reason that treatment fails to yield the best results is due to a lack of quality effort from the patient. If you only attend a few physical therapy sessions or you skip your home-based exercises, you can’t expect to make the strongest recovery. Your rehab program will take work, and you’ll get out what you put into it. If you don’t give much effort to your treatment program, don’t expect to see much progress.
4. Lack Of Help – Another all too common obstacle that has become less of an issue in recent years is a lack of resources. Even though you may live an hour from the nearest hospital or specialty center, you can still access professional information with the click of a few buttons thanks to the internet. If you’re struggling to find a professional resource to turn to for help with your spine issue, do some online research and lean on information from trusted sources. You can find helpful therapy exercises or even connect with a doctor from the comfort of your home with the help of a virtual visit!
5. Too Aggressive – Finally, we mentioned that you’ll get out of rehab what you put in, but at the same time, you have to be careful about overdoing it when you’re working to recover. If you try to push your body too hard at a time when it is weakened because of an injury or surgery, you can suffer a major setback. It can be hard to know how to effectively push yourself during your rehab period, which is why it’s oftentimes helpful to connect with a physical therapist or a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi for individualized advice and oversight.

Don’t let any of these five obstacles keep you from getting the treatment you deserve. For more information, or for help with a spine issue that you’re dealing with, reach out to the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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