Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

When new symptoms or bodily pain develops, we hope this discomfort is short lived. However, unless you’re proactive in how you care for these symptoms, they may end up hanging around or intensifying. Back pain is one of the most common types of pain that can linger if it’s not treated effectively, and in today’s blog, we explain why that’s the case.

Why Your Back Pain Won’t Go Away

Back pain can linger for a number of different reasons, and this speaks to the importance of seeking out proactive treatment early in the process. The longer you ignore back pain, the worse symptoms may get and the harder it will be to effectively overcome the discomfort.

But why does back pain have a propensity to linger without adequate care? Some reasons why back pain can become chronic include:

• No Rest For The Spine – Despite your best effort to protect the spine with limited activity, it’s very hard to take stress off your spine. Unlike a broken arm that can be protected in a sling or a cast and crutches that keeps you from putting stress on a broken ankle, you can’t really take strain off your spine. Whether you’re sitting, standing or even laying down, your spine is handling the strain of your body weight and gravity. Back pain can become chronic without proactive treatment because your spine is always forced to handle stress as it works to recover.
• Structures Never Restrengthen – If you tear a ligament or strain a muscle in your spine, that tissue is going to become weaker and less stable. Without targeted treatment like physical therapy or controlled exercise, that tissue will remain weak. Rest can help repair some of the damaged tissue, but rest isn’t what will restore strength, function and mobility. When tissues remain weak, you may continue to experience symptoms or remain at a heightened risk for further injury.
• Symptoms Can Snowball – There are a number of key structures working in close proximity in the spine, and a problem with one can cause problems in other areas if not addressed in a timely manner. A muscle tear can end up putting increased strain on a spine disc, causing it to herniate and irritate nearby spinal nerves, or it can lead to segmental instability across your spine. An untreated spinal issue can cause more to flare up, leading to additional or more severe symptoms.
• Some Injuries Only Respond To Professional Care – Finally, some injuries simply aren’t going to respond well to general treatments that you try at home. Just like you can’t fix every issue with your car on your own, you’re not always going to be able to care for all your health needs on your own. A professionally administered corticosteroid injection combined with an individualized physical therapy routine may be exactly what your spine needs, or you may require more hands-on care in the form of a minimally invasive procedure. Sometimes you need to call in a professional if you want to give your back the best chance of overcoming the issues it’s facing.

When it comes down to it, back pain oftentimes lingers because people assume it will eventually get better on its own or they convince themselves that their condition isn’t all that serious. This leads them to put off effective treatment until symptoms worsen or remain consistent.

Contact a Minnesota Back Surgeon

Don’t fall into this trap. Back pain is the leading cause of disability around the world, so don’t assume it’s something minor that will go away on its own. Proactively treat the issue when you first notice symptoms and connect with a spine specialist if you’re having difficulty managing discomfort on your own.

Let Dr. Sinicropi and his team help you overcome any new or chronic back pain that you’re experiencing. Give our team a call at (651) 430-3800.

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