Managing Uncertainty When It Comes To Spine Pain

Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

Winter-Depression

Your spine is one of the more complex systems in your body, and this complexity can make it difficult to successfully treat pain in the region. There’s not always a straightforward treatment plan for spine pain, and that can leave patients feeling a little uncertain about what lies ahead. Below, we explain how to manage this uncertainty and how to ensure you’re providing the best care for your spine even if you’re treating a complex issue.

Conquering Uncertainty When Treating Back Pain

Nothing is certain in life, but when it comes to back pain, you can help to minimize and manage some aspects of uncertainty involving your injury and care. You can do that by:

  • Getting An Official Diagnosis – A lot of people rely on the internet to diagnose their back pain, and while you can find a lot of useful information online, it’s easy to end up trusting less-than-reliable information. To make sure you know what’s going on in your spine, get an official diagnosis from your primary care physician who has access to imaging tests and who can view your injury in person.
  • Second Opinion/See A Specialist – They say two heads are better than one, so if you’re still questioning your original diagnosis, or you want an expert to provide an opinion, seek out a secondary evaluation or visit a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi. Oftentimes a specialist can catch problems that a primary care physician might miss. Even if they provide the same diagnosis, the specialist likely has more experience with a variety of treatment methods that have proven successful for your condition.
  • Control What You Can Control – You might not know what lies ahead for your spine, but instead of focusing on the uncertainty, throw yourself into healthy habits that you can control. Eat a healthy diet to maintain an optimal weight, help your spine by staying hydrated with healthy liquids like water and milk, and follow through with all of your exercise or physical therapy recommendations. You can’t completely control your rehabilitation, but if you give your body the best chance to succeed, you can take some of the uncertainty out of the equation.
  • Stay Informed – Another way to help prevent feelings of stress and anxiety from uncertainty is to do what you can to stay informed. Educate yourself about your condition, and ask questions of your spine specialist and care team. Even if the answers aren’t exactly what you were hoping to hear, you can help eliminate uncertainty by knowing what the probable outcomes are and what you can do to put yourself in the best position to succeed. Knowledge is power and can help reduce uncertainty.
  • Set Goals – Finally, when you’re working with your doctor and your therapy team, work together to set some realistic goals. Setting realistic goals and working hard to achieve them can help keep you progressing in your rehab, and progression helps to combat uncertainty. Set both short-term and long-term goals and make the necessary adjustments to keep yourself moving in the right direction.

If you’re struggling to overcome a spinal issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his experienced medical team today.

Comments are closed.

Make an Appointment