The Problem With “Dealing With” Back Pain
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Back pain is one of the most common conditions in the world. Estimates suggest that more than 90 percent of people in the world will deal with back pain – whether it be in the form of a spasm, a slipped disc, a fracture or some other ailment – at some point in their life. Since it is so common, especially as we get older, some people think they should just “suck it up and deal with it.”
While it is commendable that you aren’t going to let back pain get in the way of your life, that’s not the best mindset to hold. You’d be amazed at how many people leave our office saying “I wish I would have done this years ago!” Oftentimes back pain can be controlled, lessened and even healed with the right treatment plan, so don’t just “deal with” back pain. Today, we’re going to explain the problem with putting up with back pain.
Putting Off Spine Treatment
People put off getting care for their aching back for a number of reasons. Some people don’t think their pain is treatable, others say it “not that bad,” while others are afraid of the potential risk associated with surgery. Those are all understandable thought patterns, but they aren’t your best option. The single best thing you can do for your spine is to find an active way to treat the pain.
We’re not going to sit here and say that the best thing you can do your for spine pain is to visit a back specialist. The majority of the time a visit with a spine specialist can help you better understand your condition and develop treatment plans, but it would be dishonest to suggest that the only way to treat back pain is to see a doctor. Oftentimes, back pain can be lessened or treated by making some simple daily adjustments, like:
- Eating a healthier diet
- Getting more moderate-intensity exercise
- Doing some stretching and strength building exercises that target your spine and core muscles
- Practicing proper posture habits
- Give up smoking and excessive alcohol intake
- Staying active (yoga, walking, cycling, judo, swimming, etc.).
Why Back Pain Intervention Works
Whether it’s a change to daily habits or a consultation with a spine specialist, taking active intervention steps is the only way to treat back pain. The longer you ignore a problem, the worse it gets, and the harder it is to restore function back to its original level. For example, if you’re dealing with a disc problem, you may be able to take active steps in the beginning to resolve the problem and maintain full range of motion. If you ignore it, the only way to restore the most range of motion may be through surgery. If you ignore it longer, you may need to undergo an operation with a decreased success rate or your range of motion may only be 70-80 percent. The earlier you address the problem, the higher the chance we can return you to a pre-injured state. After a certain point, we can only control for the damage and can’t fully reverse it.
So if you are troubled by back pain, please don’t just “deal with it.” Ignoring it isn’t going to make it go away, and it’s just another day you’ll have to live in pain. Your back pain can be controlled, treated or resolved. Let us help you find a solution so today’s pain isn’t tomorrow’s problem.
