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