Should I "Wait & See" If My Back Pain Goes Away?

An increase in Back Pain complaints is common this time of year and lately I’ve had several people asking this question.  And it’s a great question!

For many it can be hard to decide whether they should just give it little more time to “WAIT & SEE” if their Back Pain will go away or if it’s time to TAKE ACTION. 

I get why this can be a tough decision to make, because most of the time our aches and pains will go away if we give our bodies some time to work through the healing process.

When that doesn’t happen, and the pain doesn’t go away as expected it can be confusing and difficult to decide what to do next.  
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Here are a couple of simple questions you can ask yourself to help you figure out what to do.

How long have you suffered with Back Pain?

Most of the time aches and pains will resolve on their own.  This is especially true when we do something we haven’t done in a while, like raking leaves in the Fall or the first hike of the season.  It’s normal for muscles to feel sore for 2-3 days after a new activity.  The body does what it designed to do.  It heals and gets stronger to prepare for the next time you rake leaves or go for a hike.

Activity related soreness is something I’m certain every adult has experienced and because of this we can mistakenly take the “WAIT & SEE” approach for months or in some cases years before deciding to get proper help for Back Pain.

Whether you’ve had minor injury that hasn’t resolved or whether your pain came on gradually for no apparent reason, if your pain has lasted for more than 2-3 weeks it’s time to TAKE ACTION.  At this point it’s unlikely your Back Pain will resolve on its own.  Waiting any longer usually makes the problem worse and it can be even harder to correct.
 
Now is the perfect time to take that next step and get some help to figure out the underlying cause of your Back Pain and then work to correct the problem.

Have you done any basic self-care to address your Back Pain?

As we just discussed, we are often accustomed to aches and pains resolving on their own without any special effort required.  If your pain doesn’t resolve within a few days, or even if you’ve been waiting and hoping for relief for quite some time now, your body may simply need a little extra support to work through the problem and heal properly.

If you haven’t already, this is the time to add some basic self-care strategies into your routine.  Notice that I said self-care “routine”.  I’m not talking about trying something one time and then claiming “it didn’t work”. 

Try some heat or self-massage to decrease tension and stiffness.  Try a few basic stretches.  Consider ice if you notice any swelling or if you just want to numb the area for some temporary pain relief.  Even better yet, try using a combination of these strategies for the best possible outcome. 

It takes being consistent with these things at least 2-3 times per day over several days and maybe even for 1-2 weeks in some cases to work through a minor problem. 

HINT:  If this works to solve your problem, why not keep it up?  This is a great time to establish a solid maintenance “routine” to help prevent the problem from ever coming back.

With that said, if after 2-3 weeks you’re still experiencing pain don’t let yourself get trapped by the “WAIT & SEE” approach.  It’s time to TAKE ACTION. 

You’ve already waited long enough!  What do you have to gain by waiting any longer?  For most people the HONEST answer here is NOTHING. 

What will happen if you don’t TAKE ACTION?  Over time, when not properly addressed Back Pain tends to get worse, not better.  Plus, it takes longer to correct and as a result will cost you even more.

Early action is best, but even late action is better than NO ACTION!

Even if you’ve already waited longer than you know you should…IT’S NOT TOO LATE!  I’ve helped people who have suffered from Back Pain for years finally resolve their pain and get back to an active lifestyle.
  
So, are you ready to TAKE ACTION? 

If so, let us help you figure out your next step today!

Just choose the option below that works best for you, fill out the short form to get the process started and then we’ll be in touch to arrange a time to chat. 

Click here for a FREE Phone Consultation with a Back-Pain Specialist.
Or click here if you’d prefer to visit us in person for a FREE Discovery Visit.

Once we know more about your specific situation and have answered any questions you have, we can help you decide what the next best step is for YOU.

Don’t wait any longer - get started today on your path to a happy, health, active life FREE from Back Pain.