Back Pain- My Top 7 Tips To A Fast Recovery

Back pain is a fact of life, at one time or another we all experience it and the first time it can feel as if you've VERY seriously injured yourself. This is rarely the case. In my many years helping people with back pain the same trends occur and much of the same advice will see you through to having pain free mobility again. Have a read through my top tips for managing back pain and you'll be back to your best before you know it :)

1, Keep calm

While back pain is incredibly uncomfortable and can start to dominate your every move, the vast majority of flare-ups are only short-lived and very rarely an indicator of serious injury or disease. It might seem like the end of your mobility at the time but try to remain calm and be safe in the knowledge that it will pass.

2, Carry on

Although you may have to limit your movement because of pain during the onset, it is actually detrimental to do so for the duration. Limiting your movement will actually increase the time it takes to recover. Forcing yourself into your regular everyday movement one of the key elements to recovery. Ease back into it and push through the pain barrier at times. Your back will thank you!

3, Be headstrong

Following on from point two, often the searing pain experienced can cloud your thoughts and scare you into submission. Focusing on the painful areas can increase the amount of pain felt and also your anxiety towards the movement. Focus your mind on other things and not only will the pain experienced decrease but you'll dare to be more mobile more quickly.

4, Don’t fall down the Google hole

Trying to self diagnose your problems is never a good idea, especially when it comes to using the internet. There is a huge amount of misinformation online that is plainly there to cause a reaction. Generally, the reaction they are looking for is 'you need to buy this!'. There are many 'affiliate marketing' websites that masquerade as medical websites recommending products to help you with your issue. They get paid if you take advantage of their advice through a link on their website, they 'funnel' your issue towards the product that pays the most, this is a dangerous practice. You will never get bespoke advice tailored to your pain online. Speak to a health professional you know you can trust.

5, You're stronger than you know

Backs are among the most resilient parts of your body, after all, they have to be! Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your back is weak or irreparably injured just because you are experiencing pain. The spine is a heavy-duty anatomical masterpiece and can brush off the majority of what you can throw at it. Pain will come and pain will go, this is life.

6, To scan or not to scan?

Let me let you in on a little secret, scans rarely highlight the cause of back pain, fact. The vast, vast majority of the time your issue will be muscular and rectified in a few days. With the steady rise of private healthcare though you will find that people encourage you to get a scan straight off the bat. As we age our there are normal changes to the discs and joints within the spine that when blown up on a scan report can cause unnecessary anxiety and make the issue worse. Don't fall into this trap. Get the first few days out of the way to assess and 'own' your pain. If it isn't subsiding then you can start to look at avenues such as this.

7, What will work for you...

Won't work for everyone! As with most things, there is no one size fits all remedy to your back pain. You know your body better than anyone so feel out the exercises that your back responds to, be as mobile as you can be and if problems persist come and see myself to help you further with a diagnosis and treatment that is tailored specifically to you.I hope this has been of benefit to you (and your back's) and in the meantime don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.Until next time!All the best,Sophie