“I thought the back pain would go away on its own”

I should really get a sign at the front desk with this quote. Unfortunately, many times the pain doesn't 'go away' on its own. Maybe you have been dealing with back pain for some time. This may be your first bout of back pain, or it might be your 100th. Maybe it has lasted a day, a month, or even years.

If it was going to ‘just go away on its own’, odds are it would have already been gone by now. 80% of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. 30% of people have back pain right now and 20% of people suffer with chronic pain.

Don’t Become  A Statistic

If you are suffering from back pain, I recommend that you seek out an expert that can help guide you to the best treatment options and self-care strategies available to overcome your back pain today. Trying to overcome back pain even with help can quickly become overwhelming. One ‘expert’ tells you to stretch, another says not to bend, and another person says you need an injection, surgery, or take medication.

There is a ‘supermarket’ of products and services that are aimed at trying to solve back pain. This leaves you confused, and willing to try everything and anything until you find the ‘one thing’ that is going to work

Unfortunately, there is no ‘one’ pill, drug, stretch, therapy or exercise that can solve all types of back pain. If there were, back pain would not be one of the leading causes of disability world wide. The reason is that back pain is complex

There are so many different possible causes of back pain, and different diagnosis.

Here is a small list of potential back pain diagnosis:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Arthritis
• Disc Bulge
• Disc Herniation
• Sciatica
• Strain/ Sprain
• Foraminal Stenosis
• Central Stenosis
• Tarlov Cyst
• Facet syndrome
• Disc Fissure (Annular, Concentric etc)
• Inflamed disc
• Inflamed Joint
• Radicular pain
• Referred Pain
• Spondylosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylolysis
• Spondylolitic spondylolisthesis
• Stress fracture
• Burst fracture
• etc...

Its complicated.

To add to the confusion, there is no one simple treatment for any one condition! In fact, there is a mountain of research that suggests you may have one of these conditions, and not have pain at all! You could have a massive disc herniation in your back, and feel perfectly fine. 

With a topic as complex as back pain, how are you to know what to do, who to turn to, or what your options are? You’re not a ‘back’ doctor!? And remember, even back doctors get back pain. That is why so many people just ‘suffer with it’. Some think they are doomed to live with this pain for the rest of their lives. 

Pain can suck the life out of you. Maybe you used to be happy, energetic, outgoing and full of youth and enthusiasm. But now because of your pain you’ve become bitter. You just ‘suck it up’. You think that nobody notices your behaviour change, but they do. It starts to affect your relationships with friends and family, and co-workers. You may also notice that your clothing is getting tighter because you can’t exercise or be as active because of the pain. You are scared for what the future holds and can’t keep living like this.

There is hope for your back pain

You can overcome your back pain. I am here to help guide you towards overcoming your back pain, and getting back to living life, and taking lives challenges head on. I have successfully treated patients of all ages, and with all types of back related problems. Many have other health conditions that complicate recovery, but we still get there.

"How is this possible? Why should you listen to what I have to say…?" 

I use a simple 2 step process in determining: 1) Can I help you (or do we need a referral or co-treatment), 2) what is causing your pain, and 3) as a whole, what factors are contributing to your pain.

Step 1: Asking questions

>80-90% of a diagnosis comes from asking questions. (**Bonus tip**, when your doctor isn’t asking questions, you may have the wrong doctor). These questions aren’t random. They are specific. The hundreds of possible causes of back pain all have different patterns, characteristics and unique presentations. Knowing the best questions to ask is the key to finding the best solution. I like to think of myself as Sherlock Holmes, and I am determined to find your Hounds of Baskervilles.

Step 2: Physical Examination

I will have you perform different movements and be moving your body into various positions, and pressing in different areas of your body to determine exactly what is causing your pain and/or problem. I will be examining your joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, and your nervous system to narrow in on what the issue is. Some of these tests may seem irrelevant, or random. Some even seem like a sobriety check. But they are all necessary to determine exactly what is happening with you to cause your pain. We will know what is causing your pain and as a whole what factors are contributing to your pain. We have a plan of treatment that will help eliminate or reduce your pain and eliminate or reduce the factors that are contributing to your pain.

What this it looks like

I provide my patients a brief ‘trial of care’. This may take place over a 3-6 week period of time. We do this to determine how effective our plan is. Within this time frame, you will be experiencing changes with your body, functionality and pain levels. Based on the results of this trial of care, and on how your respond to treatment, we will be better able to predict what treatment, and home care strategies will be the most effective for you to keep you feeling better moving forward.

You will have

1. Clarity on what is causing your pain and what you can do to get better.
2. A clear plan of action to overcome your pain
3. A partner in helping you overcome your back pain, and guiding you towards living and enjoying life, free from back pain.

You deserve to feel great about your health.

 (That includes your back health). If you are sick and tired of struggling with back pain, schedule an appointment today.