Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people head to the doctor’s office or miss some time from work, and if you’re dealing with back pain, you want to make sure that you treat it correctly so that it doesn’t linger. Unfortunately, many people oftentimes approach their spine condition incorrectly, and that can lead to worsening symptoms or a prolonged recovery.
But what are some of the most common mistakes that people make when managing their back pain, and how can you avoid these pitfalls? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some common mistakes that people make when trying to manage their spinal discomfort.
Avoid These Back Pain Management Mistakes
Here are some of the most common ways that back pain treatment can go wrong, and some tips on how you can avoid these mistakes.
- Pushing Through The Pain – Most minor or mild cases of back pain will resolve on their own without the need for surgery, but that doesn’t mean that you can just go about your day like normal. If you keep doing the same activities that led to pain onset in the first place, you can expect it to persist. You need to proactively treat your back pain. You may be able to do that on your own without seeing a physician, but you shouldn’t just keep doing the same physical activities that caused your back pain to develop in the first place.
- Too Much Inactivity – You may think that the above point is suggesting that you should lay in bed until your back feels better, but that’s not the case. We mentioned proactive treatment in the above point, and that involves treatment like gentle exercise or controlled physical therapy. Assuming that time alone will heal all wounds will lead to an extended recovery time.
- Ignoring Your Mental Health – A physical injury can take a significant toll on your mental health, so don’t just approach your back pain as a physical issue. If back pain is limiting your activities or decreasing your overall quality of life, your mental health can suffer. Talk about the struggles you are facing with a close friend or family member, or connect with a spine specialist to ensure that your mental and emotional needs are being met during your recovery.
- Overreliance On Pain Meds – Similar to the point on inactivity, if you assume that pain medications will be all that you’ll need, odds are you’re in for an extended recovery. Pain medications help to mask pain signals, but they don’t do anything to treat the underlying problem. They provide a very short-term fix to your discomfort, but they will not help you achieve long-term relief. If you’re going to take pain medications, pair them with exercise or physical therapy so that you’re also getting the benefit of active treatment techniques.
- Assuming You Don’t Need Professional Help – Finally, if you’re dealing with significant pain or prolonged discomfort, make it a point to connect with a spine specialist. Far too many people put off meeting with a doctor until their back condition has worsened, and at this point, effective treatment can be harder to achieve. Know that back pain is not normal and it isn’t something you should just learn to deal with. Instead, make an appointment with a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi and take the first step in putting your back pain behind you for good.
For more information, or to set up an appointment with Dr. Sinicropi, give the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute a call today at (651) 430-3800.
