Pain can make us do things we never thought we'd do. It may drive us to pop painkillers every few hours. Or it could make us turn to ice/cold packs in frustration. It might kick us into high gear in the gym or our yoga classes. It may even cause some of us to turn to injections or surgery. Long story short, pain can turn our world upside down. It can push people into the arms of the strangest 'cures' to rid them of their discomfort and daily agony. But how often do those solutions and cures work? Let me ask you this: How well is that downward-facing dog dealing with the terrible, debilitating pain you're feeling? My bet is…not very well.
There's nothing wrong with trying different things and seeing different types of practitioners. You could work with anyone from a physical therapist to a yoga instructor, a pilates coach to an acupuncturist, or even a personal trainer. Each one serves its meaningful purpose. Here's the thing: to get the best out of each one, you must have a plan to tackle the root cause of your problem.
Let me explain. When we approach the first tee with anxiety or grit our teeth when easing into lotus position, our back pain is in the background. And when your pain goes down after popping a few painkillers, that doesn't mean it's gone for good. Not even close! You've traded short-term relief for long-term suffering.
And don't get me started on "just resting it"!
I'm afraid to say it, but the activities that could be the most high risk for people suffering from back pain? You take them for granted -- walking, hiking, dancing, and even swimming. It's why identifying and addressing the root cause of your problem is so important. How else would you know if participating in those activities won't worsen your pain?
The truth is, the problem isn't taking up pickleball or trying that new small group class at your gym. The problem is that no one has identified the root cause of your problem. If your approach to solving the problem is:
- "I need to move more."
- "I need to be more flexible."
- "I need to get rid of these knots."
I'll be honest with you -- it won't work.
Here's why: if you don't identify and treat the root cause, nothing you do will make a lasting impact. If you get to the root cause, that newfound love for hiking, rowing, or Thai massage will only be a bonus.
Let me be clear. Different activities and different therapies serve their purpose. But you didn't see results from your yoga retreat or months of acupuncture because the root cause of your pain still needs to be addressed. People are very, very good at making pain disappear for a little while. But few professionals can provide positive, lasting results while safely treating pain.
It's common to rely on advice from friends or self-diagnosis through research. The pain in your hip sounds a lot like your friend's sciatica. Maybe your neighbor is now a back pain expert after recently having surgery. Thanks to a consult with Dr. Google, you may feel like you have everything figured out. But you must remember that the body is complex and requires professional assessment to diagnose and treat pain. Remember: if you aren't assessing, you're guessing. And if you guess wrong, you may be looking at further damage, frustration, and pain.
You may have hoped that a medical doctor would give you the answers you're looking for. Instead, they point you downstairs to the pharmacy or across town to a surgeon. How incredibly frustrating! The thing is, GPs and other doctors often don't have enough time to diagnose and treat your issue with care honestly. It is not because they don't want to do it; rather, the system doesn't afford them that luxury. You have yet to get results because you cannot get the quality treatment and diagnoses you deserve.
Alright, so what do I mean by diagnosing the problem? Your local Pilates teacher, acupuncturist, or physical therapist could do that, right? Only if they are also qualified professionals with hands-on clinical expertise. Diagnosing the root cause of the problem takes a lot of knowledge, skill, and an inherent understanding of the human body. Often, practitioners may diagnose the wrong problem and prescribe inappropriate therapies. With a well-trained sports medicine chiropractor, this doesn't happen.
Sports medicine chiropractors stand out because they focus on movement and body function. Sports chiropractic is not about pain management… it's about pain eradication.
It's also about more than that. Sports chiropractors aim to rid you of your pain – yes, of course – but that's one part of the journey. Chiropractic empowers you with the tools to maintain a pain-free life, unlike painkillers and ice/hot packs. Correctly diagnosing and treating the root cause of the problem is necessary to make this happen. In other words, sports medicine chiropractors ensure you are ready for whatever comes your way. You can exhibit thoughtless, fearless movement, knowing you minimized risk by taking the right steps at the right times. Chiropractic showed you how.
If you're tired of trying different therapies and practitioners without lasting results, it's time to seek help. We're happy to answer all your questions about how chiropractic can help you. Pain shouldn't be the norm – get the right answers and the proper treatment today.
