11/26/2021
“I’m worried it’s never going to get better . . . I’ve tried everything and nothing works . . . Is this what happens with age?”
There are times as a chiropractor that we get patients with low back pain that feel their back is beyond saving.
At that moment, I start the conversation to change a patient's mental framework about their low back pain. I feel that this is a conversation that many people could benefit from so I’m putting it out there for all to hear.
Let’s get started!
What is the current state of your low back?
If you’re in pain we will call that like being at a financial deficit (you’re in the red). If you are currently not in pain we could say you are making a profit. But will that continue?
What is the trend of your low back?
If you keep going at the current rate you are on, where do you think it will lead? If you are worried it’s not going to get better, that is usually a sign you think you are heading towards a deficit or negative trend.
Let's take a look at the numbers . . .
Assess your income (if I did more of [blank], I would probably feel better), expenses (if I did more of [blank] my low back would probably get worse) and investments (I’ve been doing [blank] since/recently before I had low back pain and it’s [improving/not improving/aggravating] my low back).
Write these things down!
The last lesson is for people to stop looking for “the quick win”. Recovery takes time and without making a plan of action it usually takes longer or worse, it puts us farther into low back debt (chronic pain). In my experience, there is ALWAYS a way out of pain and it starts with meeting you where you are on your journey
