Pain is never something that’s fun to deal with, and the problem only gets amplified when you’re trying everything in your power to fix the issue to no avail. Sometimes there’s an obvious reason why treatment isn’t working, while other times we need to dig a little deeper to get to the root of the problem. In today’s blog, we examine some of the common reasons as to why your current treatment strategy isn’t helping to fix your spine issue.
Spine Treatment Isn’t Working
In our experience, the reason your spine pain isn’t getting any better typically boils down to one of the following reasons.
- Wrong Underlying Diagnosis – The spine is a complex structure, and many conditions present with the same symptoms. Localized pain, numbness and swelling can indicate a number of different issues, so if you believe you’re dealing with one condition when you’re actually dealing with something else, you may not be following the best treatment protocol. That’s why it’s so important to get a diagnosis from a specialist instead of trying to figure out the issue on your own with a web search, especially if treatments aren’t working.
- Not Trying Long Enough – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it’s uncommon for spine issues to resolve in a day. Don’t assume that your spine injury will heal quickly just because you were prescribed painkillers and are taking a couple days off work. We see this most often in patients who are prescribed physical therapy for their injuries. They may be prescribed eight weeks of PT but only attend three sessions, and then they wonder why they still have lingering back pain. See your recommended treatments through before assuming they aren’t working.
- Rush Back To Activity Too Soon – If you’re dealing with back pain, popping a pill to calm irritation and then carrying on with your day as if nothing is wrong isn’t going to give your body time to heal. If you keep doing the same activities at work or on the weekend that led to pain in the first place, you’re going to struggle to find relief. Follow your doctor’s instructions about activity limitations and get clearance if you want to partake in more physically demanding activities.
- Half Effort – You also need to make sure that you are giving it all to your recovery efforts. If you’re just going through the motions at physical therapy and only doing your at-home exercises when you remember, it shouldn’t be surprising that your recovery is slower than you had hoped. You get out what you put in, so give 100 percent during your rehabilitation. It’s not always going to be easy, but it will be rewarding in the end.
- Misguided Expectations – One final issue that we’ve seen patients run into is that they have unrealistic expectations for their recovery. If your pain is caused from natural spine degeneration, we’re not going to be able to turn back the clock and make you feel like you’re 21 again. Some people assume the goal is full pain relief, and while we always strive for that, limiting symptoms and preventing further progression may be a more realistic goal. If you expect full pain relief from your spinal issue, you could be disappointed in your treatment success if that’s an unrealistic goal based on your underlying condition. This is why an open dialogue between patient and provider is key.
We can help you avoid all of these potential hurdles on your way to a successful outcome. For more information, or for help with your spine pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
