When Back Pain Treatment Isn’t Working – What To Reevaluate
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, and the same can be said about treating a medical issue. If you haven’t found relief with your current treatment plan, it’s time to reevaluate the process, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your treatment plan is to blame. In today’s blog, we explore some of the aspects of your care plan that require reevaluation if you’re just not seeing progress with your current program.
Factors To Reevaluate If Treatment Isn’t Working
If your back issue isn’t getting any better with your current treatment plan, here are some aspects of your care to reconsider:
- The Underlying Issue – Are you absolutely positive that you are treating the right underlying condition? Many issues in the spine produce similar symptoms, and if you think you’re dealing with a bone issue when the problem is actually caused by nerve damage, your treatment efforts may fall flat. Oftentimes it’s smart to seek out a second opinion to ensure that two professionals see the same thing and recommend the same course of care.
- Your Effort – Really look inward and ask yourself if you have been giving it your all during treatment. If you haven’t been giving your best effort during your physical therapy sessions or you’ve been missing appointments, there may not be anything wrong with your care plan other than your commitment. If you could give more effort to your care plan, it’s not yet time to switch things up.
- Your Expectations – Sometimes it appears that your treatment progress has plateaued because you have unrealistic expectations for your recovery. We understand that you want to return to work or get back to athletics, but back injuries can take a while to fully heal. If you don’t believe you’re progressing as you should be, have an open and honest conversation with your doctor or physical therapist. Perhaps all you need is a renewed perspective.
- Your Treatment – Finally, if you’ve reevaluated all the previous options and still feel like your treatment is falling short, it may be time to talk with your doctor about changing up your care plan. Whether that involves changing your conservative care plan or considering a surgical procedure, go over your options with your provider and come up with the best plan for your individual situation. Keep in mind that most doctors will want you to pursue at least six weeks of conservative care before they’ll consider a surgical procedure, as an operation carries some additional risks.
If you haven’t found success with your current back pain treatment plan, it may be time to take your care to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute. For more information, or for help with a different neck or back issue, give our team a call today at (651) 430-3800.
