Treating Spine Issues In Current and Former Service Members
Category: Spine Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
According to the National Center For Health Statistics, one in four Americans suffers from chronic back pain, and it’s very likely that ratio is higher for men and women who are currently serving or previously served in our armed forces. Service members put their bodies through a physical gauntlet during their time in the service, so it should come as no surprise that they suffer back problems at a higher rate than average. Below, we take a closer look at why back pain is so prevalent among current and former service members, and what they can do to treat their pain.
Armed Forces and Spine Pain
From the moment a recruit steps into basic training until they leave the service, their spine and bodies are tested. Many service members are required to carry heavy equipment through uneven terrain, which puts quite a bit of stress on their spine. They also do these tasks regularly, so there’s a repetitive aspect to the spinal stress they are undertaking. All that running, jumping and carrying does a number on their spines, and they do this for years throughout the duration of their service.
There’s also the very real possibility of being injured during a training exercise or being wounded during deployment. Any projectile that enters our body can do a great deal of damage, and our back is a very large target. Wounds from shrapnel or a bullet can damage vital spinal structures in the short term and in the long term if they are not addressed quickly. Even after the immediate problem has been cared for, follow up treatment will be required in order to make the fullest recovery possible.
Treating Service Members With Back Pain
We’ve helped many service members at our clinic, but we wish we could help many more. One of the problems facing care providers in treating back pain among our service member population is that many of them try to push through their pain on their own. While it may seem admirable considering you’ve spent a good portion of your life serving others, if you have back pain, now is the time to put your interests first.
For starters, many types of chronic back pain can be successfully treated. If we told you that six weeks of physical therapy could rid you of years of back pain, wouldn’t that catch your interest? For many patients, this is the scenario they are living with, but they don’t know that a simple solution is available because they don’t head to a doctor’s office. Another reason why it’s so important to have your spine looked at by a professional is because the sooner an issue is caught, the better and less invasive treatment tends to be. Instead of needing surgery five years from now, you could make a few small changes to your daily life today to put your back pain in the past.
Finally, treating your spine pain now can help you get back to the activities you love to do. It can help you get back to running or cycling, or it can just help you maintain your independent lifestyle. Let us help you improve your quality of life.
You’ve sacrificed so much to help keep this country great, but don’t let your physical health be one of those sacrifices when solutions are readily available. For more information on how we can help, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s team today. Whether it’s a minor surgery or working towards a healthier lifestyle, we can help put an end to your spine pain. Contact our office today for more information.
