At some point we all will experience muscle or joint pains. For most of us pain is a daily occurrence. So, when most people experience prolonged pain they go to an Orthopedist for a solution. The vast majority of the time their Dr. will suggest physical therapy or in some cases even surgery. Let's explore both options. First, how was your injury created? Don't know? Then chances are it came from over activity. Now, this doesn't mean you were necessarily running miles and miles. Over activity is characterized by overuse of certain muscles.Surgery is the ultimate last resort. Unless you have a condition that can and only will be corrected by surgery please find another way to help yourself.
Scenario: If I sit here at this computer for very long periods of time I am overusing my hip flexors and shoulders for starters. Now, if I didn't exercise at all and were overweight this could be the makings of a lower back problem. My hip flexors will pull my hips forward and the excessive belly weight will keep constant pressure on the front of my hip bones keeping them tilted forward. Such a tilt can cause the back of my hips to put pressure on my lower vertebrae.
So, from long hours at the computer I develop lower back pain. I then decide to go to the Dr. and it turns out that I have developed lumbar disc herniation. From a Dr.'s perspective, and depending on the severity, his first alternative was physical therapy (PT). What happens after I go to physical therapy? That's where most people find themselves falling back into the "back pain" group. Well, of course PT can relieve your back pain but will never be a replacement for your bad posture. Having a regular corrective training program and being proactive in not keeping a bad posture will make it far less likely that you will experience pain again (or as much pain). Stretch after long periods of sitting, take a yoga class, or see to it that you try not to spend too long at the keyboard.
What if he suggested surgery and I decide yes because he's a Dr. and he knows best? Just ask yourself this; Will my tight hips, knees, and back become loose after he cuts away at a back disc? It is very important that you try to figure out the cause of your back pain otherwise if you do decide to have surgery this problem will only progress along the spine because you've now made it impossible to fully "straighten" yourself out.. Surgery is usually pain relief of a symptom and not a solution to the problem. Moreover, most surgery is followed up with extensive PT that will most likely correct what was wrong in the first place. No offense to the Surgeon but he doesn't get paid to stretch you out. We must explore every avenue that can potentially fix us. We should do everything that we can to our bodies and not be so quick to rush into surgery.
Not to sound oversimplified but these are the basic facts. It is the S.A.I.D principle: specific adaptations to imposed demands. If you teach your body to be crooked then it will be crooked. We must re-teach our neuro-muscular system (nervous and muscular) the correct way to make our body move and position itself or we will never get better, potentially make things worse. Teaching people how to "straighten" themselves out is part of my job as a Fitness Professional. We hold our body's fate in our hands. How do you want to live? Pain free or painfull?
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