Are you unknowingly making your back pain worse?
Many people with back or joint pain follow well-meaning advice or delay the right care -only to suffer longer than they need to.
Today we’ll walk through 5 common (and costly) mistakes that can delay healing, increase pain, or even lead to long-term damage.
Chances are, you’re making at least one of them - let’s help you avoid it.
Mistake #1: Ignore your back pain for too long
While it’s true that most episodes of back pain tend to get better on their own, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore it.
Rather, when back pain strikes, it’s best to seek appropriate treatment and understand what you can do to prevent future bouts of pain.
As an example, when experiencing symptoms from degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, physical therapy and exercise are highly effective in reducing pain, and muscle spasm, improving muscle tone and helping prevent recurrences of pain.
Mistake #2: Rely on your general practitioner for too long
Most Primary Care doctors don’t have in-depth training in spine medicine, so if initial treatment does not relieve your pain ask to see a spine specialist.
Another example is relying on pain medication, when a spine specialist may be more likely to identify the root cause of your pain and develop a customized treatment plan for healing.
Many people choose to go to a physiatrist who specializes in spine medicine for a full diagnosis and treatment plan. A Physiatrist and other spine specialists have advanced training so they can perform a complete musculoskeletal history, physical examination, review any tests that have already been completed and then recommend an appropriate treatment plan. The plan may include more tests such as an X-Ray, MRI, specialized nerve testing or a bone scan. Specific types of physical therapy, manipulation, medication, injections and other treatment will also likely be prescribed. If your pain does not respond in an appropriate amount of time a spine specialist can refer you to the right surgeon at the right time for a consultation to see if your problem has a surgical solution. Not all spine pain can be fixed with surgery.
Mistake #3: Focus too much on the MRI scan
An MRI scan provides a very sensitive and accurate view of spinal anatomy; however, it cannot distinguish between painful and non-painful structures in your spine.
In fact, you may have terrible pain but your MRI shows a relatively normal-looking spine.
The findings on your MRI scan are just part of a diagnostic process. To find the right treatment, you need a “clinical diagnosis”, which is based on your physical exam and symptoms. When indicated, an MRI can be used to confirm the findings from your physical exam and symptoms, and/or is very useful in planning for surgery.
Mistake #4: Have spine surgery too soon
We often hear from people who view spine surgery as a "quick fix" to provide immediate pain relief.
However, unless the pain is severe and you are having trouble functioning (or a serious symptom like bowel/bladder incontinence or progressive weakness), most spine surgeons will recommend non-surgical treatment for several weeks or months before considering surgery.
While surgery can fix an anatomical lesion, the only way to completely heal is through a sustained exercise program, and it is best to get an individually prescribed set of exercises.
Mistake #5: Postpone spine surgery for too long
From a medical viewpoint, some patients tend to do better if they have surgery sooner.
For example, sometimes it is warranted to get surgery sooner to alleviate pinching or compression on a nerve root or the spinal cord. In such cases, waiting longer may prolong your recovery period or can lead to permanent nerve problems.
From a more practical viewpoint, some people need more immediate pain relief so they can work, provide for their family, etc. These people cannot afford the time off to participate in several months or more of physical therapy.
Others may need pain relief to get out from under the negative side effects of long-term pain, which can include depression, sleeplessness, and decreased muscle tone.
For such patients, choosing surgery may be a reasonable option to enhance their quality of life.
Final thoughts
When it comes to back and joint pain, small missteps in care can lead to bigger setbacks in healing.
By reading trusted sources about how to take care of yourself, you’re in a much stronger position to manage your pain and reclaim your quality of life!
