What do you do when you’re going about your day and notice your back is hurting? How about if a warm shower and rest doesn’t return you back to normal?

Many turn to their family doctor, their chiropractor or their physiotherapist to find relief from back pain and sciatica. Unfortunately, if you don’t know a professional who you trust with your musculoskeletal health, it can be difficult to find high-value, safe and effective care.

This blog post will cover 3 important questions any health care professional should try to answer in order to effectively care for back pain and sciatica.

1. Is anything life-threatening taking place?

   The first goal of any healthcare practitioner should be to ensure nothing life-threatening is happening. By asking questions related to general health, redflags, and more sinister symptoms we can do our best to rule out anything more dangerous. Once more dangerous causes of pain or discomfort are ruled out, we can usually proceed to safely trying musculoskeletal care.

2. When and why did the pain start?

   By understanding why and when the pain began, we gather important clues that inform an effective plan to maximize recovery and get you performing your best in life, work, and sport with as little down-time as possible. A thorough history should explore painful and relieving activities, when the injury began and how it has progressed, as well as lifestyle, sport and work behaviours. Every injury is different, and it’s important to find a practitioner who will take the time to listen and understand your unique set of circumstances that led you to their office.

3. Why is the pain not going away?

   Research shows that most acute back or neck pain does not last long. Typically within a few weeks we have close to full recovery, regardless of treatment option. When back pain and sciatica are persisting, it is important to explore activities, workplace contributions, past medical histories, and lifestyle choices that may be having an impact. By learning more about you and your unique issue, your healthcare practitioner may be able to create personalized solutions to reverse the cycle of chronic pain.

Once the practitioner is confident they have answered those three questions they should be able to provide you a diagnosis and a plan. Initial treatment for back pain and sciatica may include a combination of:

• Education + Advice

• Manual therapy that may include:

  • Mobilizations

  • Manipulations

  • Soft-tissue therapies

• Acupuncture

• Exercise suggestions

• Self-care strategies

When you know what to look for in a healthcare professional, you can begin your journey to recovery confident that you have the support you deserve.

It’s my passion to help people from all walks of life perform their best in life, sport, and work. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m always happy to provide a free consultation and discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.