Nobody wants an injury to return after symptoms have gone away, but that’s the unfortunate reality for a number of patients with back injuries every year. Sometimes there’s not a lot that can be done to prevent an aggravation, while other times the individual is unknowingly the biggest factor in their injury’s reemergence. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five common reasons why spine injuries and symptoms return, and how to prevent them from coming back.
Why Do Spine Injuries Come Back?
Spine injuries can return for a number of different reasons, but here’s a look at five of the most common underlying causes, and how to prevent them from causing problems with your spine.
- Keep Doing The Same Thing – If you keep doing the same things that led to your initial injury, odds are it’s going to come back again in the future. If you have poor running form or you’re constantly bending incorrectly to pick up objects, it’s only a matter of time before your injury returns. Conduct a self-assessment to see if any of your actions or inactions contributed to your initial back pain, and see if you’re falling back into those bad habits once again.
- Poor Posture – Poor posture is one of the leading causes of back pain, so it should come as no surprise that it’s also a common cause of previous injury aggravation. If you’re constantly hunched forward at your desk or slouched down on the couch, your back is going to feel this added pressure. This can cause a spinal disc to shift back out of place or other lumbar spinal issues. Mind your posture and correct your alignment if you notice you’re hunched or slouched.
- Not Enough Rest – If you suffer a back injury, the point isn’t to rest until you can tolerate movement again. You want to avoid strenuous activity until you know your body has experienced enough healing that it can handle the stress you’re about to throw at it. Rushing back to athletic activity is a very common reason that back pain reemerges. It’s better to sit out 1-2 more games than to rush back, suffer a setback and miss the remainder of the season. Listen to your body and don’t assume that because you can tolerate discomfort that it’s safe to play.
- Didn’t Follow Post-Op Instructions – If you have spine surgery, it’s imperative that you listen to your spine specialist and follow their post-op instructions. If you don’t follow their instructions or participate in post-op physical therapy, that surgery could be for naught and pain could return. Surgery isn’t going to magically fix your pain, you’ll also need to put in some work on your end, so follow your doctor’s instructions and be prepared to do your therapy exercises.
- Treating The Wrong Underlying Issue – Finally, if you think you’re dealing with one condition, but there’s actually another underlying issue, it’s possible that your pain will return despite your best efforts with treatment. This is why performing a self-assessment or using online sources to self-diagnose can sometimes lead you down the wrong path. For a much more accurate diagnosis, head to a spine specialist’s office and let them use their expertise to pinpoint your pain so that treatment focuses on the correct issue.
If you’re having a problem with recurrent or returning back pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today for assistance.
