Low back pain ongoing? Is it time for a second opinion?

In this blog, I’m going to discuss a few reasons why you might consider getting a second opinion on the management of your ongoing low back pain.

If your low back pain is new, check out the Australian Guidelines for acute low back pain or book an appointment to get it looked at. Try these stretches at the guidance of your health care professional.

Firstly, let me be clear. The only way to truly fix ongoing low back pain is to start a long term self-management program towards better health. No silver bullets, no quick fixes put simply no bull. Don’t get me wrong there are plenty of treatment techniques I can do which will have you feeling better quickly, however, if you are still doing the same things you have always done once you leave the clinic the pain is coming back!

Secondly, long term management doesn’t have to be boring for your low back pain. If your practitioner is printing of a series of 20 exercises that bring a tear to your eye every time you think of doing them because they are so boring, you are not going to do them for very long. My goal is to find something you love doing. I then incorporate that as part of your long term management plan. If that’s running… great, if its gym… awesome, yoga class… fantastic, if it is climbing trees… amazing, doing the gardening… perfect, I have even found some people get lots of pleasure from acting like animals (shout out to my Zuu buddies ;-p )

Thirdly, and most importantly, you need someone who looks at how your whole body functions. Wholistic and wellness is everywhere these days. But as osteopaths, we have been screaming about this for over 100 years. (check out this video on the history of osteopathy) I think that we are pretty good at it. It means looking at your movement patterns, ergonomics, diet, sleep, exercise, mental state and the list goes on. Of course, I can’t do everything and this is why I have a network of amazing motivated people around Geelong who can’t wait to help you.

Lastly, you are busy and your time is precious. You don’t have time to just try everything until you find something that works. I have spent the last 13 years making plenty of mistakes in the management of low back pain. I can help you not make the same ones and fast-track your healing. This allows you to get back doing the things you love.

In conclusion, the right management is paramount. Make sure you have got someone working for you who wants you to succeed long term. You don’t want someone who just has you come back week to week for a bandaid fix.