Back and neck pain are incredibly common ailments, as more than 90 percent of Americans will deal with chronic or acute back pain at some point in their life. Because it’s such a common condition that many people are at least somewhat familiar with, they often believe they can manage the condition on their own. Sometimes they are right, but other times they end up making the problem much worse. If you’re attempting to self diagnose your back pain and find ways to treat it, you need to be aware of common mistakes that people make during the process. In today’s blog, we share three common mistakes people make when self diagnosing back pain.
We understand that you’d like to take care of your back pain on your own without professional intervention, but if you make any of the following mistakes, you may notice that your spine pain gets worse before it gets better.
1. Using Pain As The Only Indicator Of Severity
Pain is the most obvious symptom that something is wrong with our body, but it shouldn’t be the only factor we use to determine our best course of treatment. Even if pain is mild, if other symptoms are present, you need to seek out a doctor. Other than pain, some symptoms that suggest you should visit a medical professional include but are not limited to:
- Balance issues
- Inhibited gait
- Bladder problems
- Dizziness
- Arm or leg weakness
If any of these problems present alongside back pain, it’s worthwhile to head to a doctor’s office.
2. Using Painkillers Or Anti-Inflammatories To Mask Pain
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications can help to drown out your discomfort, but they should not be your only treatment options. Medication will only help to mask the pain, it will not do anything to treat the underlying problem. In fact, if medications are your only treatment option, it’s likely that your back pain will only get worse because the painkillers allow you to continue to do the same daily activities that led to back pain onset in the first place.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications should be used in conjunction with active treatment options, like physical therapy, stretching and exercise techniques. Medications will make it so that these actions are not as uncomfortable, and these active treatments will help to strengthen and stabilize your spine, oftentimes helping treat the underlying issue. Your doctor can walk you through your specific care guidelines, but know that treatment will never likely just involve medication.
3. There’s No Quick Fix
As much as we wish that there was a quick fix to our back pain, that’s hardly ever the case. Even if surgery ends up being the treatment option for you, surgery alone doesn’t correct the entire problem. You’re still going to need to progress through rehabilitation and put in some work on your end. There’s no easy fix to back pain, so don’t fall for treatments or internet searches that promise a quick fix.
Instead, know that the work you put in will be worth it in the end. After all, your health is of the utmost importance, so put in the work to ensure you make the fullest recovery. Oftentimes that takes lifestyle changes, weeks of physical therapy, dietary improvements, weight loss or a host of other changes that won’t always come easy. But if you’re willing to help yourself by committing to a treatment plan, it will all pay off in the end.
To ensure you don’t make a mistake during the diagnostic process, or for help with any type of spine discomfort, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
