Back Pain Sufferers: Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes

If you have back pain, make sure you’re not inadvertently making your situation worse with the following common mistakes:

Mistake #1: Ignoring your pain for too long
You should not ignore it. Pay attention to the pain and go to a chiropractor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. With a correct diagnosis, you can start an appropriate treatment and exercise regimen that will minimize future pain.

Mistake #2: Relying on Medication
Medication does not fix the problem - it can only mask the symptom. If your pain is moderate and lasts for more than a day or two, I recommend going to a doctor of chiropractic so you can get an accurate diagnosis. Doing this sooner rather than later could help save you a lot of time, money and frustration in finding some pain relief - now and in the future.

Mistake #3: Jumping to surgery too quickly
For many, it’s tempting to view spine surgery as a "quick fix". However, with a few exceptions, it is typically recommended to try non-surgical treatment for at least several months before seeing a spine surgeon. While surgery can fix a specific anatomical problem, the only way to completely heal is through a sustained exercise and rehabilitation program. Even with surgery, you’ll need to exercise.

Mistake #4: Focusing on the MRI results
Time and time again people e-mail me about their MRI scan results. But this does not mean there is a problem. However – and I can’t stress this enough – the scan is just a picture, it doesn’t show pain. In fact, you may have terrible pain and an MRI scan that shows a normal-looking spine, or you may have an MRI that shows a large herniated disc yet have no pain. You need the full clinical diagosis, and don't focus too much on just the MRI results.

Mistake #5: Staying still
This is probably the mistake I hear about most often: people with back pain staying as still as possible to avoid aggravating the back and triggering painful episodes. One or two days of doctor-recommended rest is fine, but over time lack of activity will in fact lead to more pain. Keeping your back and supporting structures flexible and strong means that they can better support your spine, hasten the healing process and minimize the chance of future pain or injury. The ab and back muscles don’t get much exercise from everyday activities and need specific exercises.

Most importantly, back pain is different for everyone, so trust yourself – and get educated about your situation – so you have the best chance of getting better quickly.

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