Sometimes it’s easy to take our health for granted, and we don’t always realize how good we have it until a problem develops. When that happens, it can lead us to wonder if we’ll ever be able to get back to full health or are we doomed to forever have some discomfort in that area of the body. This sentiment is especially true in a complex and oft-used area of your body like the spine.
With that in mind, we wanted to try to tackle the question of “will my back ever feel normal again after an injury,” and provide some tips for helping overcome a spine injury so that you can put it completely behind you.
Will My Back Ever Completely Heal?
As you might imagine, we can’t sit here and say that you’ll absolutely be able to feel back to normal once you’ve treated your back injury because the spine is very complex and injuries vary in significance and location for each individual. One person may be able to completely heal from a herniated disc injury whereas another person may experience a little loss of flexibility at the injury site as a result of the herniation. We can’t speak in certainties when it comes to getting back to normal after a spine injury.
That being said, we can provide some advice for what you can do to give yourself the best chance possible to get back to normal or perhaps feel even stronger following a spine injury. Here’s how you can get back to feeling normal after a back injury.
- Consult A Specialist – One of the best things you can do for your short-term and long-term spinal health is to consult with a back specialist. They’ll be able to take a closer look at your spine, provide an accurate diagnosis and set you up with an individualized treatment plan. Your best chance at successfully treating a spine injury is by getting an accurate diagnosis and following a carefully cultivated treatment plan.
- Don’t Put Off Treatment – Far too often people put off treatment in the early stages of an injury in the hopes that the pain will subside on its own. For some minor injuries, that may be the case, but for posture-related problems or disc issues, odds are you’re only going to make it worse by trying to push on with your normal day. The worse a problem gets, the less likely it is to fully respond to treatment, so don’t delay treatment and reduce your likelihood of a full recovery.
- Don’t Settle For Good Enough – If you’re starting to see some progress with treatment, don’t stop as soon as it becomes bearable. Don’t jump back on the court as soon as you can tolerate the level of discomfort you’re feeling, because that can ensure pain lingers. Fully treat the problem and slowly increase your intensity and activity as you return from injury. Far too often we see athletes back on the sidelines because they tried to return too quickly after injury. Don’t settle for good enough – make it a priority to make a full recovery before diving back into activity if you want your spine to ever feel normal again.
- PT Is Your Best Friend – While you’ll want to lean on advice from your treating physician, odds are that physical therapy will be your best friend in helping you get back to normal following a back injury. PT not only aids in recovery, but it helps to strengthen and stabilize the injured area, which is exactly what it needs if it’s going to return to normal function following an injury or surgery. Don’t skip your sessions and make sure you follow through on your home-based routine.
If you can do these four things and you trust your care to an experienced specialist like Dr. Sinicropi, we’re confident that you will give yourself the best chance to make a full recovery and get back to feeling normal again following an injury or surgery. For more information or for help on your quest to get back to normal, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
