| ons of people struggle with back pain and fail to | | | | the spine, found that 40% of people who |
| get lasting relief and the primary reason is a lack | | | | underwent back surgery had no decrease in their |
| of knowledge and understanding about back pain. | | | | pain even though their doctor/surgeon had |
| In our work with over 20,000 back pain sufferers | | | | assured them of the results. |
| here at The Healthy Back Institute, we have | | | | So in order for you to get long-term, lasting relief |
| identified several questions that are common | | | | you need to identify and address the underlying |
| among nearly all, back pain sufferers. And | | | | cause of your pain. |
| unfortunately, for many, these people continue to | | | | Action to take: |
| struggle with back pain because their questions | | | | Identify the underlying cause of your pain by |
| never get answered or they get the wrong | | | | identifying the muscle imbalances that are creating |
| information. | | | | your physical dysfunctions and conditions. Make |
| So the purpose of this article is to educate and | | | | sure any treatment you are given or perform |
| inform anyone suffering from back pain by | | | | addresses both the symptoms (condition and |
| answering these common questions and by giving | | | | pain) and the cause (muscle imbalances and |
| specific recommendations and actions to take. | | | | dysfunctions). |
| Question #1 – Is my excess weight | | | | Question #3 – My doctor not to exercise, |
| causing my back pain? | | | | what should I do? |
| While excess body weight is a factor, it by itself | | | | Find a new doctor. Too many research studies |
| typically isn’t enough to create a condition | | | | have shown that people with back pain who avoid |
| that would cause back pain. Excess body weight | | | | exercise and activity, end up suffering longer and |
| in the form of excess body fat can worsen a | | | | have a more difficult time getting relief. |
| pre-existing condition and can also make recover | | | | While you may need to rest for a few days |
| more difficult. | | | | initially to let things settle down, after that you will |
| Also, it’s important to understand that if | | | | get better results by staying active because by |
| you are overweight it’s very likely that | | | | continuing to move you keep your blood |
| your muscles are out of balance. When your | | | | circulating and your muscle active, which will |
| muscles are out of balance, it forces your body | | | | prevent them from getting weaker. |
| to function and move in an unbalanced way and | | | | But that’s not enough. |
| this places uneven pressure, strain and wear tear | | | | Even though staying active may help; it’s |
| on your body. And it’s this process that is | | | | not enough to get rid of the underlying cause of |
| responsible for creating any conditions or physical | | | | the pain. In order to do that, you must identify |
| dysfunctions that are causing the pain. | | | | and address your imbalances and dysfunctions. |
| Unfortunately, most people aren’t even | | | | And the generic exercises that almost every |
| aware when this is happening with their body. | | | | back pain sufferer receives from their healthcare |
| Action to take: | | | | professional, may or may not help… it can |
| Don’t worry so much about your weight | | | | even worsen the condition. And the reason is, |
| right now. First focus on eliminating your back pain | | | | these exercises do not address the specific |
| by identify the muscle imbalances that are | | | | muscle imbalances and dysfunctions that are |
| throwing your body out of balance and work on | | | | responsible for their pain. |
| improving and correcting them. Then, once your | | | | Action to take: |
| back is feeling better you can focus more on | | | | If your doctor or healthcare professional |
| losing weight. | | | | hasn’t taken the time to educate about |
| Question #2 – I’ve tried | | | | the effect of muscle imbalances and importance |
| everything but nothing has worked, what should I | | | | of performing targeted and specific, corrective |
| do? | | | | exercises and stretches, it’s time to look |
| First off, while it may seem like you’ve | | | | elsewhere. |
| exhausted every possible treatment, it’s | | | | Unfortunately, the number of healthcare |
| not likely that you’ve tried everything. So | | | | professionals who are educated and trained in the |
| unless you’ve given up and plan on living | | | | art of identifying and addressing muscle |
| the rest of your life in pain, you need to make | | | | imbalances is small and finding one can often be |
| the decision to be open-minded and continue to | | | | difficult. If you have trouble finding someone in |
| identify and experiment with other available | | | | your area, please feel free to contact us here at |
| treatment options. But, before you try any other | | | | The Healthy Back Institute by calling |
| treatments, it’s important that you | | | | 800-216-4908 and we’ll do our best to |
| understand why what you’ve already | | | | help you. |
| tried hasn’t worked. | | | | Conclusion |
| The reason nearly all back pain treatments fail to | | | | If you’re a back pain sufferer, you well |
| deliver long-term relief is because they treat just | | | | know that these are just a few of the many |
| the symptoms and fail to address the actual, | | | | questions that you may have. The fastest way |
| underlying cause. For example, let’s talk | | | | for you to get lasting relief from back pain is to |
| about back surgery. While removing a piece of a | | | | become an expert on it and your body and you |
| herniated disc may, if you’re lucky, reduce | | | | do that be educating yourself. |
| or eliminate your pain, the fact is it didn’t | | | | I strongly encourage you to learn as much as you |
| deal with what caused the disc to herniate in the | | | | can about back pain, how it develops and the |
| first place. | | | | various treatment options that are available. And |
| In fact, a study published in the June 2004 issue | | | | lastly, stay focused and don’t give up. |
| of Spine, an international journal for the study of | | | | |