| I'm just guessing, but heres what your | | | | The next time you go to the doctor or |
| experience with back pain has probably been | | | | chiropractor, bring a pen and paper along |
| like: | | | | with the list of questions below: |
| | | | |
| You probably went to your family doctor | | | | 1. What is the cause of the pain? (Not the |
| first, or a chiropractor. Your visit likely | | | | symptom, but the actual cause) |
| only lasted 15 minutes or so they poked | | | | |
| around and confirmed that you do have back | | | | 2. Is it muscular or structural? (involving |
| pain and gave you a prescription for the | | | | the bones of the spine) |
| pain. Now before we go any further, let me | | | | |
| ask you this: how in the heck is a | | | | 3. If its muscular have the doctor, |
| prescription drug going to fix a physical | | | | chiropractor, physical therapist, etc name |
| problem like back pain? | | | | exactly which muscles and other muscles that |
| | | | may be involved. |
| Doctor visits, chiropractic adjustments, | | | | |
| physical therapy, pain relievers, | | | | 4. Do I need an X-ray, CT-scan or MRI? |
| anti-inflammatories, new mattress, rub on | | | | |
| creams, and the list goes on | | | | 5. Did I have a predisposition for the injury |
| | | | based on my life style and daily postures? |
| Im sure youve tried several or maybe even | | | | |
| many on that list yet youre back still | | | | 6. Do I have muscle imbalances that created |
| hurts. Why arent any of the experts helping | | | | this condition over time? |
| or treatments working? | | | | |
| | | | 7. Will I have muscle imbalances still after |
| The answer is simple | | | | your treatment? |
| | | | |
| Its all in the approach most, if not all, of | | | | 8. Will it heel 100%? |
| the treatments people receive for back pain | | | | |
| are flawed from the start. Im not going to | | | | 9. Are there specific exercises or stretches |
| cover each of them in detail in this | | | | to do for my condition? |
| article, however, if you would like to learn | | | | |
| more about traditional treatments for back | | | | 10. Which muscles should I stretch and which |
| pain and why they dont work, I suggest you | | | | muscles should I strengthen? |
| read my article on the subject here: | | | | |
| | | | 11. Will I do more harm than good if I dont |
| You and I already know that those treatments | | | | do the right activities? |
| just dont work, so I want to give you some | | | | |
| information that you can use to take control | | | | 12. Will the physical therapist you are |
| of your own health and well being and find | | | | sending me to have the time to spend one on |
| the treatment that will finally get rid of | | | | one with me to effectively work with me? |
| your back pain once and for all. | | | | |
| | | | 13. Will Ultra Sound and Electrical |
| It has been my experience that trying to | | | | Stimulation correct my muscle imbalances? |
| convince somebody of something they are | | | | |
| unfamiliar with is just about impossible. so | | | | I could go on and on with questions like |
| instead of me telling you what to do, I want | | | | these that you should ask your doctor, but |
| to give you the tools for you to do it | | | | we both know that you wont because you dont |
| yourself. | | | | want to piss off the doctor and then worry |
| | | | that youll get bad care next time. |
| Step one: First, you must understand that | | | | |
| pain is your bodys way of telling you | | | | So did I just waist my time and yours by |
| something is wrong dont ignore it! And in | | | | listing them out. Heck no, these are great |
| order to fix it or get rid of it, you must | | | | questions to use when trying to find a |
| first know whats causing it. | | | | treatment approach that will work for you. |
| | | | |
| Step two: Be open-minded in order to find a | | | | We already know what doesnt work and why, |
| solution youll need to be willing to learn | | | | lets talk now about what does work. In order |
| and please dont be afraid to look for and/or | | | | for any back care program or approach to be |
| ask for help. | | | | successful, it must include the following |
| | | | criteria: |
| There are thousands of sources of information | | | | |
| in the world on upper back pain, lower back | | | | - Identify the root cause of the problem |
| pain and back pain in general, but if you | | | | |
| dont know how to sort through all that | | | | - Treat both the symptom and the cause |
| information it will be useless to you. | | | | |
| | | | - Focus on the body as a whole and not zoom |
| Step three: Take action now youre going to do | | | | in on only the problem area |
| it, and with my help! You do not have to | | | | |
| live with low back pain, upper back pain, | | | | - Physical problems can only be treated and |
| sciatic pain, or any back pain for that | | | | corrected with a physical approach |
| matter and you can feel great again. | | | | |
| | | | - Address muscle imbalances with targeted |
| You have two options: | | | | strength, flexibility, and muscle work |
| | | | |
| 1. Leave it up to your doctor or chiropractor | | | | - Be easy to understand, implement, and |
| and hope it gets taken care ofor | | | | progress |
| | | | |
| 2. You can take control of your back care | | | | - Help you maintain a healthy back and |
| yourself and ensure it gets taken care of | | | | prevent future occurrences |
| | | | |
| I dont know about you, but its a no brainer | | | | So how can you find a back care program that |
| for me! | | | | not only meets all these criteria, but is |
| | | | proven to work far better than traditional |
| But, I know you may be feeling like theres NO | | | | treatments? |
| solution and maybe youve even resigned | | | | |
| yourself to the fact that youll have back | | | | Just do a little research you can use the |
| pain for the rest of your life I hope thats | | | | internet to find all sorts of information |
| not the case because you do have the power | | | | and resources on back pain, but remember, it |
| and ability to eliminate it. | | | | must meet the criteria we outlined above our |
| | | | its guaranteed to fail! |
| If you choose option one, leaving your back | | | | |
| health in the hands of someone other than | | | | Dont give up, its out there, if you take the |
| yourself, at least educate yourself enough to | | | | time to look youll find it maybe right under |
| know what questions you need to be asking. | | | | your nose! |
| | | | |